title: Local drug delivery agents as adjuncts to endodontic and periodontal therapy.
abstract: In the treatment of intracanal and periodontal infections, the local application of antibiotics and other therapeutic agents in the root canal or in periodontal pockets may be a promising approach to achieve sustained/controlled drug release, high antimicrobial activity and low systemic side effects. The conventional method for the elimination of subgingival microbial infection includes mechanical debridement, irrigation with antimicrobial agents or surgical access. But, the effectiveness of conventional nonsurgical treatment is limited by lack of accessibility to bacteria in deeper periodontal pockets, and/or does not completely eliminate intracanal microorganisms. Surgical intervention may be beneficial but cannot be done in all cases, medically compromised cases and also in patients not willing to be subjected to surgical therapy. Development of local drug delivery systems provides an answer to all such difficulties. This comprehensive review tries to cover the detailed information about the latest advances in the various local drug delivery systems, their indications, contraindications and their advantages over systemic drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies Kadrabad, Modinagar, Ghaziabad.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Puri
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004708:Endodontics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: Periodontal pocket; endodontic failures; local delivery systems; periodontal therapy; root canal