title: Effect of insertion of xanthan-based chlorhexidine gel in the maintenance phase following the treatment of chronic periodontitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of subgingivally administered xanthan-based chlorhexidine gel when used in the maintenance phase following scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, controlled, single-center study was conducted involving 92 sites in 46 systemically healthy patients suffering from moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis with isolated pockets. The selected sites were randomized to two treatment arms: Group A (SRP alone) and Group B (SRP + insertion of chlorhexidine gel after 1 month). The gingival index, plaque index, probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline and subsequently after 1 month and 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the groups showed significant reductions in PPD and CAL at both follow-up visits when compared with the baseline values (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the application of xanthan based chlorhexidine gel following SRP in the maintenance phase might be beneficial in treatment of the chronic periodontitis in comparison to SRP alone. Greater improvements may be achieved when antimicrobial agents are used following SRP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Manav Rachna Dental College, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanghi
authors.forename: Dimple
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Nymphea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pandit