title: The effect of topical metronidazole therapy on experimentally-induced periodontitis in the beagle dog.
abstract: The present study was performed to assess the effect of topical metronidazole therapy on ligature-induced periodontitis in beagle dogs. 6 beagle dogs with experimentally-induced periodontitis on the mandibular 2nd, 3rd and 4th premolars were treated with metronidazole 10% dental paste 2 x daily for 4 weeks in an open placebo-controlled study using a split-mouth design. Recordings of probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing and gingival index were performed before commencement of treatment and repeated weekly during the 4-weeks treatment period. Concurrently, samples for microbiological analysis were collected from 2 of the dogs. The results demonstrated that probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing and gingival index had improved significantly in the metronidazole-treated side compared with the placebo-treated side. Black pigmented Bacteroides spp. and Spirochetes, present in all samples before treatment, were eliminated from the metronidazole-treated side after the 1st week of treatment and throughout the treatment period, whereas they were present in all samples from the placebo-treated side. The result of the present study demonstrates that topical application of metronidazole in a dental paste, improves the clinical features of the experimentally-induced periodontitis and eliminates some of the micro-organisms associated with the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Oral Microbiology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klinge
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuvatanasuhati
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Attström
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalfas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edwardsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000188:drug therapy; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D010919:Placebos; D013144:Spirochaetales / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004343:Drug Implants; D005782:Gels; D010919:Placebos; D008795:Metronidazole