Microbiome in maintained periodontitis and its shift over a single maintenance interval of three months.

Abstract

AIM\nTo assess the subgingival microbial shift of maintained periodontitis treated by ultrasonic scaling (US) or air polishing (AP) during a three-month maintenance interval.\n\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS\nWe conducted a 12-week randomized split-mouth controlled trial with US and AP in 17 maintained subjects [Bleeding on probing (BOP%) ≤25%, probing depth (PD) ≤5 mm]. They were monitored at baseline, week 2, week 8, week 12. The V3-V4 region of the 16S rDNA from 136 subgingival plaque samples was sequenced and analysed.\n\n\nRESULTS\nTreatment by US or AP could effectively reduce the PD, microbial richness, diversity, periodontitis-associated microbiota, and pathogenic metabolism in maintained periodontitis. Bacteria recolonized after treatment and returned to the pre-treatment level 12 weeks after treatment. US group demonstrated slight advantage in reducing BOP (%), pathogenic bacteria and metabolism than AP group. Pathogenic microbiota and commensal microbiota kept a balance in subgingival community of maintained patients during the three-month interval.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nTreatment by US or AP effectively reduced the pathogenicity of subgingival microbiome by reducing microbial diversity, proportion of periodontitis-associated microbiota, and pathogenic metabolism. It helped to keep a balanced subgingival community and stable periodontal condition over a single maintenance interval of three months. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.