Controlled local delivery of tetracycline with polymer strips in the treatment of periodontitis.
BACKGROUND
Several antibacterial agents have been studied as a means to produce bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity as an adjunct to mechanical treatment of periodontal disease. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tetracycline strips administered singly or in multiples in conjunction with root planing, versus root planing alone, or to an untreated control. Secondary purposes were to compare gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume and GCF concentrations of tetracycline in pockets treated with strips; to evaluate strip insertion time; and to compare ease of placement for single or multiple strips.


METHODS
Using a 4-quadrant design, 4 test teeth in 24 patients were treated with either root planing and single strip application; root planing and multiple strip application; root planing alone; or an untreated control.


RESULTS
Single and multiple strip placement resulted in a significant reduction in probing depth (P = 0.033) compared to root planing and untreated groups. The multiple strip group significantly decreased bleeding on probing (P = 0.05) compared to all other treatment groups. There was no treatment effect on GCF; however, there was a significant reduction in the GCF volume over time (P = 0.001). The time required for placement was, on average, 1.9 minutes for single strips and 3.25 minutes for multiple strips.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that multiple strips are superior to a single strip in reducing bleeding on probing, and that local delivery of tetracycline is superior to root planing alone in reducing probing depth.
Friesen
Lynn R
LR
Department of Periodontics, University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Dentistry, 64108, USA.
Williams
Karen B
KB
Krause
Lana S
LS
Killoy
William J
WJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000188:drug therapy; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000188:drug therapy; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D011108:Polymers; D016745:Root Planing; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers; D013752:Tetracycline