title: Comparative evaluation of locally delivered minocycline and metronidazole in the treatment of periodontitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of subgingivally delivered Minocycline microspheres and 25% Metronidazole gel when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, controlled, single center study was conducted involving 60 sites in 20 patients suffering from moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis. Each patient contributed three sites which were randomized to three treatment groups: SRP + insertion of Minocycline microspheres at day 1 (Group A), SRP + insertion of Metronidazole gel at day 1 and at day 7 (Group B), and SRP alone (Group C). Gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at day 1, 1 month, and 3 months post therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All treatments showed significant reductions in PPD and CAL at 1 and 3 months when compared to baseline values (P < 0.001). At 3 months, sites treated with minocycline showed an additional reduction in PPD of 0.85 ± 0.03 mm, significantly greater than SRP alone. Differences in mean PPD reduction between Group B and Group C and between Group A and Group B were not significant. At 3 months, difference in CAL gain between Group A and C was 0.50 ± 0.45, which was statistically significant and between Group B and C was 0.35 ± 0.11, which was not found to be statistically significant (P = 0.20). Differences in relative CAL between Group A and Group B were also not found to be statistically significant (P = 0.53).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results concluded that treatment with Minocycline microspheres and Metronidazole gel improve PPD and CAL in patients with periodontitis compared to SRP alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Implantology, D.A.V. (c) Dental College, Model Town, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Nymphea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pandit
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dahiya
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Deepika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.forename: Abhinav
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kathuria
keywords: Local drug delivery; metronidazole gel; minocycline microspheres