Antimicrobial Effects of Cold Atmospheric Plasma on Oral Biofilm Compared With No Treatment

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to integrate existing knowledge regarding the antimicrobial potential of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in the context of oral biofilms, the cause of various oral infections. To achieve this, several databases, namely, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science, were comprehensively searched for studies analysing the effects of CAP on oral biofilms. 11 studies are included to this review, and the outcomes of these studies were analysed and summarised using a modified version of the MINORS assessment tool because of the lack of a more suitable tool for in vitro studies. The findings of this review highlighted the remarkable antimicrobial potential of CAP against oral biofilms; however, considerable variation as noted in some specific parameters such as the type of gas, biofilm species, treatment duration, and voltage. Prior studies have suggested a 2-min threshold for efficacy; however, according to the findings of this review, this most studies indicated that CAP displayed efficient antimicrobial in less than 2 min. Additionally, the review indicated that CAP was adaptable and safe and has a minimal detrimental impact on nontarget tissues and oral materials. The review validated the antimicrobial effectiveness of CAP against oral biofilms, presenting it as a promising alternative to conventional techniques such as, mechanical debridement and antibiotics. Future in vivo and in vitro studies are warranted to validate these findings, create specific quality assessment tools for in vitro research, and explore the effects of CAP on nontarget tissues and common oral surfaces. These measures may help promote the use of CAP as an effective antimicrobial strategy in dentistry.