Comparison of conventional periodontal therapy versus scaling and root planing with subgingival minocycline gel 2%

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Alternative regimens using subgingival minocycline plus scaling and root planing (SRP/M) significantly improved clinical attachment (CAL) and reduced probing depth (PD) compared with SRP alone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes in 2 periodontitis cohorts, one receiving conventional periodontal therapy and the other receiving scaling and root planing with multiple doses of subgingival minocycline
Materials and Method: Moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis patients were concurrently treated with either:(1) scaling and root planing with 4 subgingival doses of minocycline in all ≥ 5mm pockets over a 6 month period (SRP/M) n = 25 patients or (2) conventional therapy 6 month period (SRP n = 25 patients). Clinical and radiographic measurements including (PD), CAL, BOP and interproximal bone height (BH), were analyzed at baseline and 1 year.
Results: Baseline clinical and radiographic data were similar between SRP/M and SRP patients. PD showed greater mean improvement in SRP/M (1.1 ± 0.1 versus 0.5 ± 0.1 mm P=0.02) with 25% of subject of SRP/M gaining ≥2mm compared to 4.2% in SRP. The mean loss in bone height and percent subjects losing bone height were less in SRP/M (2.9 ± 0.6 mm) than SRP (3.7 ± 0.7mm) while cross sectional SRP/M data between CAL and BH or PD and CAL were highly correlated, changes over 1 year were not correlated among any of these parameters.
Conclusion: Scaling and root planing and subgingival minocycline in experimental sites resulted in more PD reduction and less frequent bone height loss than conventional periodontal treatment alone.
Keywords: Root planing, minocycline. (J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2006; 18(2) 57-62)