title: Periodontal dressing may influence the clinical outcome of non-surgical periodontal treatment: a split-mouth study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After scaling and root planning (SRP), healing induces the formation of a junctional long epithelium rather than a new connective attachment. We hypothesize that the placement of a periodontal dressing will be able to prevent detachment of coagulum inducing proper healing and improving periodontal parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  This split-mouth study included 30 patients with periodontitis with ages ranging from 35 to 70 years. Probing pocket depth (PD), probing attachment level (PAL), bleeding on probing index (BoP) and plaque index (PI) were assessed before and after therapy. The group of patients received SRP in a span of 24 h. Then, a periodontal dressing was applied on the test side and it was removed after 1 week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  The difference between PD values at baseline and after therapy was 1.6 ± 0.6 mm. The difference in PAL (ΔPAL) measurement was 1.4 ± 0.4. Test group: there was a greater PD reduction, this being 2.4 ± 0.6 mm on average. The difference in PAL was 2.5 ± 0.4 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results clearly suggest that the use of a periodontal dressing improves the periodontal parameters after an SRP procedure. This is probably due to clot stabilization and prevention of bacterial colonization during wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Stomatologico Tirreno, Versilia General Hospital, Camaiore, Italy.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Genovesi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Marchisio
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Covani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000473:pathology; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000628:therapy; D010511:Periodontal Dressings; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000628:therapy; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy; D016745:Root Planing / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology