Evaluation of the protective effects of non-thermal atmospheric plasma on alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis

Objectives The inhibition of bone destruction is one of the main goals of periodontitis treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of non-thermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP) on alveolar bone loss radiographically, histomorphometrically, and histologically in experimental periodontitis in rats. Materials and methods A total of twenty-eight rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (CG) ( n = 8), periodontitis group (PG) ( n = 10), and NTAP group (NTAPG) ( n = 10). In PG and NTAPG, experimental periodontitis was created with ligating. The kINPen 11 plasma jet was applied around the ligatured teeth in NTAPG. The samples from each group were radiographically assessed with microcomputed tomography (micro-CT); then, histological (presence of osteoclasts and inflammatory cells) and immunohistochemical (immunoreactive of OCN and ALP) findings were compared. Results The results revealed a significant increase in alveolar bone loss in the PG compared with CG and NTAPG ( p