title: 1% alendronate gel as local drug delivery in the treatment of Class II furcation defects: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alendronate (ALN), an aminobisphosphonate, is known to stimulate the formation of osteoblast precursors to promote osteoblastogenesis. The present study aims to explore the efficacy of 1% ALN gel as a local drug delivery system in adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) for the treatment of Class II furcation defects in comparison with placebo gel.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 69 mandibular Class II furcation defects were randomized and treated with either 1% ALN gel or placebo gel. Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, and radiographic parameters were recorded at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Defect fill at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months was calculated on standardized radiographs using image analysis software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean probing depth (PD) reduction and mean relative vertical (RVCAL) and horizontal (RHCAL) clinical attachment level gain were shown to be greater in the ALN group than the placebo group at 3, 6, and 12 months. Furthermore, a significantly greater mean percentage of bone fill was found in the ALN group (32.11% ± 6.18%, 32.66% ± 5.86%), compared with the placebo group (2.71% ± 0.61%, 1.83% ± 1.51%), at 6 and 12 months, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study show that local delivery of 1% ALN into a Class II furcation defect stimulates a significant PD reduction, RVCAL and RHCAL gains, and improved bone fill compared with placebo gel as an adjunct to SRP. ALN can provide a new direction in management of furcation defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore, India. periodonticsgdcri@gmail.com
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Pradeep
authors.forename: Minal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.forename: Nishanth S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Savitha B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Naik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D012534:Dental Scaling; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005782:Gels / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D005782:Gels; D019386:Alendronate