Subgingival topical doxycycline versus mechanical debridement for supportive periodontal therapy: a single blind randomized controlled two-center study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical effects of topical subgingival application of a doxycycline gel compared to conventional mechanical debridement in supportive periodontal therapy.


METHODS
37 patients with residual or recurring periodontitis after systematic periodontal treatment at two centers (Heidelberg, Frankfurt) participated in this study. They had to exhibit at least one single-rooted tooth with either a probing depth (PPD) = 5 mm and bleeding-on-probing (BOP) or with PPD > or = 6 mm. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the two different treatment regimes: DOXY (exclusively subgingival application of a 14% doxycycline gel) or SRP (scaling and root planing with a sonic scaler). Clinical examinations (plaque index [P1I], PPD, vertical relative attachment level [RAL-V], gingival index [GI]) were performed before, 3, and 6 months after therapy.


RESULTS
In 37 patients (19 female), aged 30-76 years with a total of 168 teeth were treated (DOXY: 79; SRP: 89). Six months after therapy, both groups exhibited statistically significant (P< 0.001) reductions of PPD (DOXY: -1.43 +/- 0.22 mm; SRP: -1.14 +/- 0.18 mm) and gains of RAL-V (DOXY: 0.79 +/- 0.22 mm; SRP: 0.72 +/- 0.19 mm). Multilevel regression analyses, considering the therapy of different numbers of teeth in different patients, failed to show statistically significant differences concerning PPD reduction and RAL-V gain between both therapies (DOXY/SRP). For both therapies, PPD reduction was significantly better in deeper pockets (PPD > or = 7 mm) than in shallow pockets (PPD: 5-6 mm).
Eickholz
Peter
P
Poliklinik für Parodontologie, Zentrum für Zahn-, Mund- und Kieferheilkunde, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/Main, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt/Main, Germany. eickholz@med.uni-frankfurt.de
Kim
Ti-Sun
TS
Schacher
Beate
B
Reitmeir
Peter
P
Bürklin
Thomas
T
Ratka-Krüger
Petra
P
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline