title: 3 regimens of topical metronidazole compared with subgingival scaling on periodontal pathology in adults.
abstract: This report presents the findings from an open randomized multicentre clinical trial designed to compare the clinical efficacy of scaling with application of 3 different preparations/dose frequencies of topical metronidazole in the treatment of adult periodontitis. The 4 treatments were: (A) metronidazole 25% dental gel administered 1 x a week for 2 weeks; (B) metronidazole 15% dental gel applied 1 x a week for 2 weeks; (C) metronidazole 15% dental gel applied 2 x a week for 2 weeks; (D) subgingival scaling, performed 1 x only. A split mouth design was used. Patients were included in the study if they had at least 1 tooth in each quadrant with a pocket depth > or = 5 mm in at least 1 of 4 sites. A total of 61 patients from 4 centres were entered into the study. The efficacy parameters were probing pocket depth and bleeding on probing. Follow-up visits for recording of clinical efficacy were made at 2, 4, 6 and 12 weeks after the end of metronidazole treatment. All 3 antibiotic treatments (A, B, C) reduced the symptoms of periodontal pathology and yielded results comparable to those seen after subgingival scaling (D). When using a topical drug therapy, it seems important to use a preparation that requires as few applications as possible. The best candidate for drug therapy would therefore be treatment (A) metronidazole 25% applied 1 x a week for 2 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Lund University, Centre for Oral Health Sciences, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klinge
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Attström
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karring
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kisch
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stoltze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000009:adverse effects; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005782:Gels; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004343:Drug Implants; D005782:Gels; D008795:Metronidazole