title: Local delivery of hyaluronan as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the adjunctive effect of the local application of a hyaluronan gel to scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with chronic periodontitis were recruited to participate in a study with a split-mouth design and provided informed consent. Plaque formation and bleeding on probing were evaluated pretreatment (baseline) and at 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-treatment. Probing depths and attachment levels were evaluated at baseline and at 12 weeks. The patients received full-mouth scaling and root planing. A hyaluronan gel was administered subgingivally in the test sites at baseline and after 1 week. Significant differences between test and control were evaluated using the paired t test, repeated-measures analysis of variance (Wilks lambda), and a non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction in bleeding on probing scores and probing depths was observed in both groups at 12 weeks (P <0.05). Significantly lower bleeding on probing scores were observed in the hyaluronan group compared to control at 12 weeks (P <0.05). Mean probing depth reductions between baseline and 12 weeks were 1.0 +/- 0.3 mm and 0.8 +/- 0.2 mm for the hyaluronan and control groups, respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The local application of hyaluronan gel in conjunction with scaling and root planing may have a beneficial effect on periodontal health in patients with chronic periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Dental Hygiene Program and Department of Periodontology, Institute of Odontology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden. annsofi.johannsen@ki.se
authors.forename: Annsofi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johannsen
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tellefsen
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wikesjö
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johannsen
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005782:Gels; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000628:therapy; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000628:therapy; D016745:Root Planing
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D005782:Gels; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid