title: Clinical and microbiological effects of Lactobacillus reuteri probiotics in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: a randomized placebo-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus reuteri-containing probiotic lozenges as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty chronic periodontitis patients were recruited and monitored clinically and microbiologically at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks after therapy. All patients received one-stage full-mouth disinfection and randomly assigned over a test (SRP + probiotic, n = 15) or control (SRP + placebo, n = 15) group. The lozenges were used two times a day for 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At week 12, all clinical parameters were significantly reduced in both groups, while there was significantly more pocket depth reduction (p < 0.05) and attachment gain (p < 0.05) in moderate and deep pockets; more Porphyromonas gingivalis reduction was observed in the SRP + probiotic group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that oral administration of L. reuteri lozenges could be a useful adjunct to SRP in chronic periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Periodontology Section, Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Periodontology Section, Dentistry, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Teughels
authors.forename: Andaç
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Durukan
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozcelik
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pauwels
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quirynen
authors.forename: Mehmet Cenk
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Haytac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000628:therapy; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D052200:Limosilactobacillus reuteri / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000628:therapy; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000628:therapy; D010919:Placebos; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016745:Root Planing / Q000379:methods; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D013607:Tablets
keywords: Lactobacillus reuteri; microbiology; periodontitis; probiotics; scaling and root planing; treatment