Air-abrasive debridement with glycine powder versus manual debridement and chlorhexidine administration for the maintenance of peri-implant health status: a six-month randomized clinical trial

Study design This single-masked, randomized and six-month clinical intervention trial including two study groups was planned to evaluate the efficacy of maintenance treatment with glycine powder on the periodontal health of peri-implant tissues. Methods A total of 46 patients with partial or total edentulism, carrying a total of 88 implants, were assigned either to an air abrasive with the glycine powder treatment group (AAD) or to a manual debridement and clorexidine administration treatment group (MDA). Clinical data were collected before treatment and at 3 and 6 months after the treatment. Plaque index (PI), bleeding index (BOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and bleeding score (BS) were analysed. Results After 3 months, AAD treatment statistically significantly improved BS (P < 0.05); at 6 months, AAD treatment statistically significantly improved indexes PD, PI, BOP and BS (P < 0.05). In addition, the AAD treatment proved to be more effective than MDA in maintaining the peri-implant health of PD at three and 6 months, and of PI at 6 months (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes of CAL in both groups, and all the indexes remained within the physiological levels. Conclusions Within the limits of the study, treatment with glycine seems appropriate in the maintenance of peri-implant health and more effective than the traditional treatment with plastic curette and chlorhexidine.