Plaque disclosing agent as a guide for professional biofilm removal: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate through computer software analysis, the efficacy of the use of a plaque disclosing agent as a visual guide for biofilm removal during professional mechanical plaque removal in terms of post-treatment residual plaque area (RPA). METHODS: Thirty-two healthy patients were selected and randomized in two groups to receive a session of professional mechanical plaque removal with air-polishing followed by ultrasonic instrumentation with (Guided Biofilm therapy-GBT) or without (Control) the preliminary application of a plaque disclosing agent as visual guide. The residual plaque area (RPA) was evaluated through re-application of the disclosing agent and computer software analysis, considering the overall tooth surface and the gingival and coronal portions separately. RESULTS: A statistically and clinically significant difference between treatments is observed, with GBT achieving an RPA of 6.1% (4.1-9.1) vs 12.0% (8.2-17.3) of the Control on the Gingival surface and of 3.5% (2.3-5.2) vs 9.0% (6-13.1) on the Coronal, with a proportional reduction going from 49.2% (P-value = .018) on the former surface to more than 60% (P-value = .002) on the latter. CONCLUSION: The application of a plaque disclosing agent to guide plaque removal seems to lead to better biofilm removal.