Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42018469›Full record

ArticleClinical and experimental dental research2026

Modeling In Vitro Biofilm-Calculus Formation for Assessing Periodontal Instrumentation and the Forces Applied.

Gert Jungbauer, Luca Giacobbo, Alexandra Stähli, Anton Sculean, Jürgen Burger, Sigrun Eick, Martin Hofmann

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical and experimental dental research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Gert JungbauerDepartment of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Luca GiacobboSchool of Biomedical and Precision Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Alexandra StähliDepartment of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Anton SculeanDepartment of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-2836-5477
Jürgen BurgerSchool of Biomedical and Precision Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Sigrun EickDepartment of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Martin HofmannSchool of Biomedical and Precision Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-2104-9260

Funding

Association for Dental Infection ControlGeistlich-Stucki Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesIn vitro models provide valuable insights into treatment options and their effectiveness prior to and alongside clinical evaluation. Such models should be standardized, reproducible, and closely reflect the clinical situation. This study aimed to investigate the removal of subgingival biofilm and calculus by instrumentation, which is vital in the successful treatment of periodontitis. The approach was to (i) develop an in vitro model based on biofilm and calculus formation and (ii) assess it by hand and ultrasonic instrumentation, while (iii) measuring the forces applied in an innovative periodontal defect model. MATERIALS AND

methodsA multi-species mixture consisting of 11 bacterial strains was used to form an initial calculus over 14 days. Inserts carrying human dentin specimens, either with biofilm or with a combination of biofilm and calculus, were placed in a periodontal pocket model equipped with a multi-axis force sensor, followed by treatment with hand or ultrasonic instrumentation. Instrumentation forces were recorded, and the remaining biofilm or biofilm/calculus was analyzed for bacterial colony-forming unit (cfu) counts and calcium levels after instrumentation.

resultsThe results revealed that the cfu counts and calcium levels in the biofilm/calculus group were higher compared to the respective biofilm controls. Ultrasonic instrumentation was more effective than hand instrumentation in reducing cfu counts in both the biofilm and biofilm/calculus groups. Furthermore, both hand and ultrasonic instrumentation reduced calcium levels in the biofilm/calculus groups. The peak forces Fy in the hand instrumentation groups were significantly higher in both the biofilm and biofilm/calculus groups compared to the respective ultrasonic groups.

conclusionsThe model enabled an initial reproducible calculus formation and evaluation of different instrumentation modalities, including the forces applied. The results favored the ultrasonic instrumentation due to its superior removal of biofilm and calculus and lower lateral forces. The presented biofilm/calculus model offers a new in vitro approach for comparing different instrumentation modalities.

Indexed as

BiofilmsDental CalculusDental ScalingPeriodontal PocketCalciumColony Count, MicrobialDentinHumansIn Vitro TechniquesModels, BiologicalUltrasonic TherapyCalciumdental biofilm and calculusforce evaluationmanual and piezoelectric ultrasonic scalerperiodontal therapy

Identifiers

PMID42018469
PMCPMC13102088

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.