A chlorhexidine varnish implemented treatment strategy for chronic periodontitis: short-term clinical observations.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome of a subgingivally applied chlorhexidine varnish when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.


METHODS
A randomized controlled, single blind, parallel trial was conducted on the basis of 16 volunteers suffering from chronic periodontitis. The control group received oral hygiene instructions and was scaled and root planed in two sessions. The test group received the same instructions and treatment, however, all pockets were additionally disinfected using a chlorhexidine varnish. The gingival index, plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline and subsequently after 1 and 3 months.


RESULTS
Both treatment strategies showed significant reductions in PPD and CAL at both follow-up visits by comparison with baseline levels (p<0.001). Yet, at study termination, combination therapy resulted in additional pocket reductions between 0.73 and 1.23 mm (p<0.02), and clinical attachment gains between 0.63 and 1.09 mm (p<0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that a varnish-implemented strategy may improve the clinical outcome for the treatment of chronic periodontitis in comparison with SRP alone.
Cosyn
Jan
J
Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Free University of Brussels (VUB), B-1090 Brussels, Belgium. jan.cosyn@vub.ac.be
Wyn
Iris
I
De Rouck
Tim
T
Sabzevar
Mehran Moradi
MM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; C477721:EC40 dental varnish; D002710:Chlorhexidine