title: Local metronidazole application in maintenance patients. Clinical and microbiological evaluation.
abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effect of local antibiotic therapy in comparison with subgingival scaling and root planing in a randomized semi-masked study. Forty-six recall patients who completed systematic periodontal therapy 6 to 24 months prior to the study were enrolled. The inclusion requirements were at least one site with probing depth > or = 5 mm in each quadrant, no scaling, and no antibiotic therapy during the last 6 months. After randomization each patient received 2 different treatments: in 2 quadrants metronidazole 25% dental gel was applied subgingivally to the pockets at day 0 and day 7; scaling and root planing was carried out in the 2 other quadrants, one at day 0 and in the remaining quadrant at day 7. Subgingival microbiological samples were taken from each patient before treatment and on days 21, 91, and 175 after the treatment. The analyses were carried out by indirect immunofluorescence assay. At all treated sites probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded on days 0, 21, 91, and 175. Both treatments resulted in PD reduction and CAL gain. PD reduction was statistically significant (P < 0.01) for both treatment modalities after 6 months. The CAL gain was not significant for either treatment. There was no statistical significance between scaling and antibiotic therapy. Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia were significantly reduced after therapy; however, there were no statistically significant differences between treatments. If Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was present before therapy, it was also present after treatment in both groups. The conclusion is that, in recall patients, local application of metronidazole and scaling and root planing showed similar clinical and microbiological effects without statistically significant differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University Hospital Charité, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rudhart
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Purucker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kage
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hopfenmüller
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bernimoulin
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D012534:Dental Scaling; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005782:Gels; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016745:Root Planing; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014208:Treponema / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005782:Gels; D008795:Metronidazole