Adjunctive Effect of Erythritol on Pocket Closure Rates

This study is testing whether erythritol powder, used during non-surgical periodontal treatment (also known as deep cleaning), can help improve gum health in people with advanced periodontitis (stage 3 or 4). Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth. Standard treatment includes removing plaque and tartar using manual tools or ultrasonic devices.

In this study, gum pockets that are 4 mm deep or more are treated either with standard care alone or with standard care plus a cleaning method that uses air pressure and erythritol powder (a sugar alcohol with antibacterial properties). The goal is to determine whether this additional step leads to improved clinical outcomes.

Participants are randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. The study tracks improvements in gum pocket depth after 2 and 4 months, as well as other indicators of periodontal health like bleeding and plaque levels. Researchers are also evaluating whether factors such as age, sex, smoking status, or diabetes influence treatment response.

Inclusion criteria

Adults aged 18 years or older

Diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 periodontitis according to the 2017 classification

Presence of at least 12 natural teeth

Presence of periodontal pockets with probing depth ≥ 4 mm in non-adjacent teeth

Good general health or stable systemic conditions (e.g., controlled diabetes)

Exclusion criteria

Use of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs within 3 months prior to treatment

Periodontal treatment in the previous 6 months

Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Current smokers of more than 10 cigarettes per day

Allergies or intolerance to erythritol or any materials used in the treatment

Systemic diseases or conditions that could influence periodontal healing (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, immunodeficiency)

Use of medications known to affect periodontal tissues (e.g., phenytoin, cyclosporine, calcium channel blockers)