The effect of systemic metronidazole after non-surgical treatment in moderate and advanced periodontitis in young adults.
The effect of adjunctive systemic metronidazole was studied in patients with moderate and advanced periodontitis recalcitrant to comprehensive non-surgical treatment. The material originated from a randomly selected part of the population aged 31 to 40 years. After non-surgical treatment of 149 patients, 98 with persisting pathological pockets greater than or equal to 5 mm (52 men and 46 women) became the subjects for the study. Clinical parameters were registered and pocket contents subjected to laboratory analysis. The subjects were randomized into two groups according to a code list known only by the manufacturer and the statistician. The test group took three 400 mg metronidazole tablets daily for 1 week and the control group took placebo tablets. Reassessment 6 months later showed statistically significant clinical improvement, with a reduction in the number of sites greater than or equal to 5 mm in both test and control groups. Complete healing, with no pockets greater than or equal to 5 mm, was noted in 30% of the test group and 9% of the control group. The difference is statistically significant and shows the supplementary effect of adjunctive metronidazole in non-surgical treatment of moderate and advanced periodontitis.
Department of Periodontology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
P O
PO
Söder
L
L
Frithiof
S
S
Wikner
F
F
Wouters
P E
PE
Engström
B
B
Rubin
U
U
Nedlich
B
B
Söder
D000328:Adult; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000628:therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis; D012534:Dental Scaling; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000628:therapy; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010919:Placebos; D011897:Random Allocation; D013607:Tablets
D010919:Placebos; D013607:Tablets; D008795:Metronidazole