Periodontal surgery and root surface decontamination by means of an erythritol based air-polishing

INTERVENTION: Thirty systemically healthy patients with periodontitis are included in the present study. Inclusion criteria are the presence of a single‐rooted tooth with a probing pocket depth (PD) = 6 mm associated with horizontal bone loss as detected at re‐evaluation following nonsurgical periodontal therapy. These sites are in need for further surgical therapy. Following flap preparation by means of simplified papilla preservation flap (SPPF) and removal of granulation tissue, patients are randomized (according to a computer‐generated list, block randomisation procedure) as follows: 1. Test treatment consisting of careful removal of calculus (if calculus present) with the tip of a blade and subsequent air‐polishing of the root surfaces with erythritol air‐polishing (EMS, Switzerland) 2. Control group treatment consisting of thorough scaling and root planing (SRP) with hand curettes and ultrasonic instruments Parameters PD, clinical attachment (CAL), bone sounding (BS), and radiological bone level (BL) are evaluated at baseline and 12 months postsurgically. The primary outcome variable is CAL‐gain. CONDITION: Periodontitis with horizontal bone loss ; Oral Health ; Periodontal disease, unspecified PRIMARY OUTCOME: Clinical attachment (CAL), measured with a periodontal probe (PCP UNC 15, Hu Friedy) from the bottom of the periodontal pocket to the cementum‐enamel‐junction, at baseline and 12 months SECONDARY OUTCOME: ; Measured at baseline and 12 months:; 1. Periodontal pockets measured with a periodontal probe (PCP UNC 15, Hu Friedy) from the bottom of the periodontal pocket to the gingival margin; 2. Bone sounding (BS) measured with a periodontal probe (PCP UNC 15, Hu Friedy) under anaesthesia in contact to the bone within the periodontal pocket to the gingival margin; 3. Radiological bone level (BL) measured on x‐rays as the distance from the most apical point of the intrabony defect to the cemento‐enamel junction; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Patients have to present one single‐rooted tooth with a PD = 6mm and horizontal bone loss with a maximum 2 mm intrabony component as detected radiographically (experimental tooth) 2. Over 18 years old 3. Completed the nonsurgical periodontal therapy (initial anti‐infective therapy) at least 3 months prior to study inclusion or be in the corrective phase of the periodontal treatment or engaged in SPT 4. Maintain a good level of oral hygiene [plaque control record (PCR) after O’Leary 1972 = 25%] (O'Leary et al., 1972)