Year : 2018

Volume : Volume 8

Issue : Issue 1

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Savan SR.
SavanSR@gmail.com

Abstract

ABSTRACT  Background:  The main aim of periodontal therapy is to eradicate the plaque bacteria and ensuring the periodontal pockets are free of granulation tissue for proper healing to occur. Localized antimicrobial therapy, in particular, has evoked growing interest because of the site-specific nature of periodontal infections, the higher concentration of anti-microbial agent subgingivally and reduced side-effects of systemic antibiotic use.  In the present clinical study, an attempt is made to evaluate the efficacy of metronidazole 25% dental gel with scaling and root planing as compared to that of scaling and root planing alone.  Material and Methods: A total number of 60 sites from 8 patients with probing pocket depth measuring 5mm and 8mm in different quadrants of the mouth were selected for the study. The selected sites were divided into two groups. Group A (control) comprised of 30 sites. Teeth in this group were treated by scaling and root planing at the baseline (0 day). Group B (test) comprised of 30 sites. Teeth in this group were treated by scaling and root planing followed by local application of Elyzol (metronidazole 25% gel). Prior to scaling and root planing at baseline, (day 0) the selected teeth with the sites were subjected to assessment of clinical parameters. The patients were recalled on the 30th, 60th and 90th  day and all the clinical parameters i.e. plaque index, gingival index, gingival bleeding index and probing pocket depth were recorded.  Student's independent t-test was used to calculate the p value. Results: The percentage of reduction in plaque index score between 0-90th  day in Group A was (45.28±  16.49) and in Group B was (61.83±13.49) which was statistically significant (P< 0.000l). The percentage of reduction in gingival index score between 0-90th day in Group A was (51.67 ±14.52), and in Group B was (66.00±14.65), which was statistically significant (P< 0.0001) On day 90 there was a 66.7% reduction in gingival bleeding sites in Group A and 93.3% in Group-B, which was statistically significant (P <0.02).  The percentage of reduction in probing pocket depth from 0-90th day in group A was (22.94±8.39) and in group B was (26.13±8.45) which was not statistically significant (p=0.15).  Conclusion: The present study illustrates that the adjunctive use of 25% metronidazole gel along with scaling and root planing, was superior to the conventional treatment of subgingival scaling alone and these differences were maintained for three months. Furthermore, the differences were of sufficient magnitude which offers clinical relevance.

Keywords: Chronic periodontitis; Localized antimicrobial therapy; Metronidazole gel.