Exploring the Efficacy of Low-Temperature Plasmas on Oral Biofilms: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

The rise of antibiotic resistance and the limitations of conventional therapies for managing biofilm-related oral infections highlight the urgent need for novel solutions, with low-temperature plasma (LTP) emerging as a promising alternative due to its potent antimicrobial effects, tissue-safety, and reduced risk of fostering resistance. This scoping review investigates the efficacy of LTP application for the management of oral biofilms associated with dental caries, peri-implantitis, endodontic infections, and oral candidiasis. This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF). Studies were identified through comprehensive searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, EBSCO (Medline Ultimate and e-journals), and Google Scholar, with no publication date restrictions, and were supplemented by manual reference screening. Eligible studies included original research, published in English, examining LTP's effectiveness in oral biofilms. After systematically screening the literature, 51 studies were included in this scoping review, comprising mostly in vitro research, alongside ex vivo, in situ, and clinical studies. Data extraction revealed LTP's broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential and promising clinical implications for dentistry. This review highlights key findings, identifies research gaps, and underscores the therapeutic potential of LTP in managing complex oral biofilm-related infections.