Non-surgical periodontal therapy with adjunctive topical doxycycline: a double-blind randomized controlled multicenter study

Influence of locally delivered doxycycline on the clinical and molecular inflammatory status of intrabony defects prior to periodontal regeneration: A double-blind randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To test the effect of locally delivered doxycycline (DOX) administered 2 weeks prior to minimally invasive periodontal regeneration in terms of presurgical inflammatory status and cytokine expression profile in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Secondary aim was to assess the early wound healing index (EHI) at 2 weeks after surgery.

BACKGROUND

It is hypothesized that healing after periodontal regeneration is dependent on preoperative soft tissue condition, and that local antibiotics may improve the site-specific inflammatory status at short time.

METHODS

Sites associated with periodontal intrabony defects requiring regenerative surgery and showing bleeding on probing (BoP) were included. At T0, experimental sites were randomly treated with subgingival instrumentation with or without topic DOX application. After 2 weeks (T1), defects were approached by means of minimally invasive surgical technique. GCF was sampled at both T0 and T1 for inflammatory biomarker analysis. Two weeks after surgery, the EHI was evaluated (T2).

RESULTS

Forty-four patients were included. At T1, the number of BoP+ sites was statistically significantly less in the test group (27.3% vs. 72.7%; p < .01). The total amount of interleukin (IL)-1β (p < .001), matrix-metalloproteinases (MMP)-8 (p < .001), and MMP-9 (p = .010) in the GCF significantly decreased in the test group at T1, with relevant differences compared to controls. At T2, the EHI had an average value of 1.45 ± 0.86 in the test group while in the control, it was 2.31 ± 1.43 (p = .027). A statistically significantly positive correlation was observed between the amount of IL-1β and MMP-9 and EHI scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the limitations of this study, sites treated with DOX showed improved clinical and molecular inflammatory parameters before surgery, as well as soft tissue healing 2 weeks after surgery.

Supra and subgingival application of antiseptics or antibiotics during periodontal therapy

Periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis) are characterized by inflammatory processes which arise as a result of disruption of the balance in the oral ecosystem. According to the current S3 level clinical practice guidelines, therapy of patients with periodontitis involves a stepwise approach that includes the control of the patient's risk factors and the debridement of supra and subgingival biofilm. This debridement can be performed with or without the use of some adjuvant therapies, including physical or chemical agents, host modulating agents, subgingivally locally delivered antimicrobials, or systemic antimicrobials. Therefore, the main aim of this article is to review in a narrative manner the existing literature regarding the adjuvant application of local agents, either subgingivally delivered antibiotics and antiseptics or supragingivally applied rinses and dentifrices, during the different steps in periodontal therapy performed in Europe.

Gels as adjuvant to non-surgical periodontal therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effect of the use of available drugs loaded gels used as adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Methods

Systematic research on PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central register of Controlled Trials, and Embase databases up to December 2021 was performed. Randomized clinical trials (RCT) which compared the outcomes of scaling and root planing (SRP) + local adjuvant administration (gel) versus SRP + placebo or SRP alone in Humans were included. The primary outcome measures were PPD and CAL changes at 3 months.

Results

After articles screening, 77 articles were included and assessed for quality. Then, a meta-analysis was conducted in studies with at least 3 months of follow-up. Clinical improvements were found to be significant for tetracyclines (-0.51 [-0.71;-0.31] p < 0.001), macrolides (-0.71 [-1.04;-0.38] p < 0.001), statins (-0.84 [-0.98;-0.70] p < 0.001), metformin (-1.47 [-1.66;-1.29] p < 0.001) and hyaluronan (-1.61 [-2.28;-0.94] p < 0.001) loaded gels, but non-significant for chlorhexidine (-0.48 [-1.10; 0.14] p = 0.13), metronidazole (-0.50 [-1.20; 0.20] p = 0.16) and bisphosphonates (-0.42 [-1.39; 0.54] p = 0.539) gels.

Conclusion

Adjunctive use of drugs loaded gels to non-surgical periodondal treatment could improve PPD reduction at 3 months. However, huge disparities remain when comparing the outcomes of the differents drugs used. Future comparative studies should be considered to determine precisely short and long term benefits of such treatments.

Efficacy of propolis and triple antibiotic paste as intra-canal medicaments for revascularisation of immature teeth in dogs: a comparative study

AIM

Revascularisation is a therapeutic approach for treatment of immature teeth with necrotic pulp. The conventional protocol includes application of triple antibiotic paste (TAP). The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of propolis and TAP as intra-canal medicaments for revascularisation of immature teeth in dogs.

METHODOLOGY

This study was conducted on 20 immature (open-apex) canine teeth in mixed breaded dogs. First, the teeth were exposed to oral environment, followed by intra-canal cleaning and shaping 2 weeks later.. The teeth were divided into two groups. The TAP group received paste comprising of ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and minocycline (at a concentration of 100 µg/mL), while propolis (15% w/v) was used in the other group. The revascularisation procedure was done by means of sodium hypochlorite, EDTA and distilled water as final irrigant. After dehumidifying and induction of bleeding, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) was applied At 6-month follow-up, radiographs were evaluated by two observers regarding root length and thickness, intra-canal calcification, periapical lesions, and apex formation. Data were analysed by the Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the TAP and propolis groups in root length or root thickness increase, calcification, related lesions, or apex formation (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Findings of the present study in experimental animals revealed that the efficacy of propolis as an intra-canal medicament is comparable to that of triple antibiotic paste for revascularisation therapy.

Evaluation of the efficacy of topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after lower impacted wisdom teeth surgery

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a single-dose topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after impacted lower third molar surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective, controlled clinical study consisted of individuals with bilaterally impacted lower third molars that would be extracted for orthodontic reasons. The extraction sockets were irrigated with 3 ml/250 mg of rifamycin solution in Group 1, while in Group 2 (control group) the extraction sockets were irrigated with 20 ml of physiological saline. Pain intensity was measured daily for 7 days by using visual analog scale. Trismus and edema were evaluated preoperatively and on the postoperative days 2 and 7 by calculating the proportional changes in maximum mouth opening and mean distance between reference points of the face, respectively. Paired samples t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and Chi-square test were used to analyze the study variables.

RESULTS

35 patients (19 female, 16 male) were included in the study. The mean age of all participants was 22.19±4.98. Alveolitis was observed in 8 patients, (6 in the control group, 2 in the rifamycin group). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of trismus and swelling measurements on the 2nd and 7th postoperative days (p>0.05). VAS scores were significantly low in rifamycin group on postoperative days 1 and 4 (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Within the limits of the present study, topical rifamycin application reduced the incidence of alveolitis, prevented infection, and provided analgesic effect after surgical removal of impacted third molars.

A Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate Two Locally Delivered Antibiotic Gels (Piperacillin Plus Tazobactam vs. Doxycycline) in Stage III-IV Periodontitis Patients

Background and objectives: this study aims to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effects of a single subgingival administration of a locally delivered antibiotic gel containing piperacillin plus tazobactam and compare it with a slow-release doxycycline (14%) gel and a placebo gel, following subgingival instrumentation (SI) in patients with severe periodontitis. Materials and methods: sixty-four patients diagnosed with stage III-IV periodontitis were enrolled, were randomly assigned into three groups, and were treated additionally with a single subgingival administration of piperacillin plus tazobactam gel (group A); doxycycline gel (group B); and placebo gel (group C). The primary outcome variable was the change in mean probing pocket depth (PPD) 6 months after the intervention. Secondary outcome variables were changes in mean full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS); full-mouth plaque score (FMPS); overall bleeding index (BOP); pocket closure; and clinical attachment level (CAL), along with changes in the numbers of five keystone bacteria: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.), Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.), Prevotella intermedia (P.i.), Tannerella forsythia (T.f.), and Treponema denticola (T.d.). Intergroup and intragroup differences were evaluated at 3 and 6 months. Results: at baseline, the three groups were comparable. An improvement in clinical parameters such as PPD, CAL, and BOP between groups was observed at 3 and 6 months, but without statistical significance (p > 0.05). At 6 months, the intragroup analysis showed a significant reduction in clinical parameters. Even though the piperacillin plus tazobactam group showed slightly higher PPD reduction, this was not statistically significant when compared to both control groups. Conclusions: The groups had similar results, and subgingival instrumentation can be executed without adjunctive antimicrobials, reducing the costs for the patient and the working time/load of the professional.

Photodynamic Therapy by Mean of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid for the Management of Periodontitis and Peri-Implantitis: A Retrospective Analysis of 20 Patients

Periodontitis and peri-implantitis are common in the population worldwide. Periodontal diseases affect approximately 50% of adults, while mucositis affects 80% of patients with implants, turning into peri-implantitis at a rate varying from 28 to 58%. If standardized treatments for all degrees and variety of periodontal diseases are known and codified, a consensus on the treatment of peri-implantitis still has to be found. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used successfully in the medical field and was recently introduced as supportive therapy in dentistry. This paper reviews the results on 20 patients, 10 affected by periodontal disease (grades II to III) and 10 by peri-implantitis. Application of 5% 5-aminolevulinic acid gel (ALAD), as a support of causal therapy, in periodontal pockets and areas of peri-implantitis favored the maintenance of severely compromised teeth and significantly improved compromised implant conditions. Between baseline and 6 months, all teeth and implants remained functional. All patients confirmed that the scaling and root planning (SRP)+ALAD-PDT was not painful, and all perceived a benefit after the treatment at all timing points. For periodontal patients, a significant decrease in PPD after 3 (p < 0.001) and 6 months after SRP+ALAD-PDT respect baseline values were observed. For the implant patients, the SRP+ALAD-PDT was correlated to a decrease in PPD and BOP, and a slight increase in the number of exposed threads. However, the results were statistically significant only for PPD (p < 0.001).

Clinical and microbiological effects of a single application of sodium hypochlorite gel during subgingival re-instrumentation: a triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to assess the clinical and microbiological effects of a single subgingival administration of sodium hypochlorite gel (NaOCl) and compare it with 1% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel and a placebo gel following mechanical re-instrumentation during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty-two patients who had been treated for stage III-IV periodontitis and enrolled in SPT were included in the study based on following criteria: (1) active periodontal therapy completed at least 6 months before enrollment in the study, (2) presence of at least 4 non-adjacent sites with probing pocket depths (PPDs) ≥ 4 mm with bleeding on probing (BOP), or presence of 5-8 mm PPDs with or without BOP. All sites presenting PPD ≥ 4 mm and BOP at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-up timepoints were subgingivally re-instrumented with ultrasounds. Selected patients were randomly assigned into three groups and treated additionally with a single subgingival administration of NaOCl gel (group A); 1% CHX gel (group B); and placebo gel (group C). Main outcome variable was pocket closure at 12 months. Secondary outcome variables were changes in mean PPD, BOP, and clinical attachment level (CAL) along with changes in the numbers of the following five keystone bacterial pathogens: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.), Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.), Prevotella intermedia (P.i.), Tannerella forsythia (T.f.), and Treponema denticola (T.d.).

RESULTS

At 12 months, pocket closure was obtained in 77.5% in the NaOCl treated sites. The reduction in PPD was higher with CHX than with NaOCl, although a statistically significant adjunctive effect for NaOCl (P = 0.028) was only observed in comparison with placebo only. Mean CAL improved in all groups and at all timepoints, compared to the baseline (P < 0.05). However, after 6 months, CAL gain was statistically significantly higher in the NaOCl treated group than following application of CHX (P = 0.0026).

CONCLUSION

In SPT patients, a single adjunctive use of a NaOCl gel may provide benefits in controlling inflammation and residual pockets.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN Registry of Clinical Trials (ISRCTN11387188).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A baseline single application of NaOCl gel in conjunction with mechanical debridement may achieve substantial pocket closure in patients enrolled in SPT; treatment time, cost, and applicability considerations should be taken into account when selecting this therapy.

Influence of Anti-Infective Periodontal Therapy on Subgingival Microbiota Evaluated by Chair-Side Test Compared to qPCR—A Clinical Follow-Up Study

A chair-side test (CST) for five periodontal pathogens (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, A.a.; Porphyromonas gingivalis, P.g.; Prevotella intermedia, P.i.; Treponema denticola, T.d.; Tannerella forsythia, T.f.) was compared with qPCR in a previous clinical study on 100 periodontitis patients at first diagnosis (T0). Following non-surgical treatment alone (SRP) or in combination with systemic or local antibiotics, 74 patients (57.4 ± 13.5 years) were again tested at the same sites from 14 to 24 months after T0. Bacterial elimination (%; compared to T0) was determined for each single species and compared between both test systems. In all patients, all five pathogens could not be fully eliminated regardless of therapy or test method. Tested with CST, the mean elimination ranged from 90% for SRP + Amoxicillin/Metronidazole to 59.13% for SRP only. The corresponding qPCR values were 30% and 29.6%. Only A.a. was eradicated in 100% by SRP + Amoxicillin/Metronidazole tested by CST, and it was 80% when qPCR was the test method. CST agreed with qPCR in 98.7% in the detection of A.a., and 74.3%, 78.4%, 73.0%, and 48.7% for P.g., P.i., T.d., and T.f., respectively. Neither conventional treatment nor the additional use of antibiotics—even with the correct indication—could completely eradicate the tested pathogens or prevent pocket reinfection.

A thermosensitive gel with an active hyaluronic acid ingredient that contains an octenidine preservation system as an adjunct to scaling and root planning: a randomized prospective clinical study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the adjunctive effect of a thermosensitive gel formulation that contains 0.8% oligo hyaluronic acid (HA) combined with a preservation system of octenidine HCl 0.625% and phenoxyethanol to scaling and root planing (SRP) as compared with SRP alone in the treatment of residual pockets of patients with stage 3 periodontitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-four patients (21 males and 13 females) aged 29-78 years (51.3 ± 13.1) with stage 3 periodontitis were recruited to participate in the present split-mouth study. None of the patients has been previously treated for periodontitis. Plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were evaluated at baseline and at 3 and 6 months post treatment. Full-mouth SRP was performed in all residual pockets ≥ 5 mm. Treatment was performed by means of ultrasonic and hand instruments and lasted 45-60 min. The gel was applied subgingivally in the test sites immediately after SRP (baseline) and 1 month later. The paired t-test for two means was applied to test the statistical significance of the change from baseline within each arm and determine the difference between groups. The level of significance was set at 0.05 for all tests.

RESULTS

Mean PD reductions between baseline and 3 and 6 months were 1.98 mm and 2.79 mm for the test and 1.22 mm and 1.50 mm for the control group, respectively. Comparisons between the test and control groups revealed that SRP + gel yielded statistically significantly higher PD reductions compared to SRP alone (p < 0.0001). Compared to baseline, CAL and BOP values improved statistically significantly in both groups, although the test group presented statistically significantly higher CAL gains and BOP reductions than the control group (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

In residual pockets of stage 3 periodontitis patients, the local application of a thermosensitive gel with an active HA ingredient and a preservation system of octenidine HCl 0.625% in conjunction with SRP may additionally improve the clinical outcomes obtained with SRP alone.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A novel HA and octenidine containing thermosensitive gel effectively improved the clinical parameters in stage 3 periodontitis patients over a 6-month period.

Antibiotics or No Antibiotics, That Is the Question: An Update on Efficient and Effective Use of Antibiotics in Dental Practice

The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenomenon is an emerging global problem and is induced by overuse and misuse of antibiotics in medical practice. In total, 10% of antibiotic prescriptions are from dentists, usually to manage oro-dental pains and avoid postsurgical complications. Recent research and clinical evaluations highlight new therapeutical approaches with a reduction in dosages and number of antibiotic prescriptions and recommend focusing on an accurate diagnosis and improvement of oral health before dental treatments and in patients’ daily lives. In this article, the most common clinical and operative situations in dental practice, such as endodontics, management of acute alveolar abscesses, extractive oral surgery, parodontology and implantology, are recognized and summarized, suggesting possible guidelines to reduce antibiotic prescription and consumption, maintaining high success rates and low complications rates. Additionally, the categories of patients requiring antibiotic administration for pre-existing conditions are recapitulated. To reduce AMR threat, it is important to establish protocols for treatment with antibiotics, to be used only in specific situations. Recent reviews demonstrate that, in dentistry, it is possible to minimize the use of antibiotics, thoroughly assessing patient’s conditions and type of intervention, thus improving their efficacy and reducing the adverse effects and enhancing the modern concept of personalized medicine.

Adjunctive effect of locally delivered antimicrobials in periodontitis therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To answer the following PICOS question: in adult patients with periodontitis, which is the efficacy of adjunctive locally delivered antimicrobials, in comparison with subgingival debridement alone or plus a placebo, in terms of probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, in randomized clinical trials with at least 6 months of follow-up.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic search was conducted: 59 papers, reporting 50 different studies, were included. Data on clinical outcome variables changes were pooled and analysed using weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), and prediction intervals (PI), in case of significant heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were observed, in 6- to 9-month studies, for PPD (WMD = 0.365, 95% CI [0.262; 0.468], PI [-0.29; 1.01]) and clinical attachment level (CAL) (WMD = 0.263, 95% CI [0.123; 0.403], PI [-0.43; 0.96]). For long-term studies, significant differences were observed for PPD (WMD = 0.190, 95% CI [0.059; 0.321]), but not for CAL. For adverse events, no differences were observed. Results were affected by study design (split-mouth versus parallel studies) and assessment (full- or partial-mouth), as well as by the formulation tested.

CONCLUSIONS

The use adjunctive locally delivered antimicrobials in periodontitis therapy results in statistically significant benefits in clinical outcomes, without relevant side effects.

Doxycycline encapsulated in β-cyclodextrin for periodontitis: a clinical trial

This clinical trial compared the efficacy of doxycycline (DOX) in β-cyclodextrin (DOX)/βCD) with DOX- alone in gel on thirty-three subjects with periodontitis. Patients were randomized to group 1 GI; 10% DOX + scaling and root planning (SRP); group 2 (GII (10% DOX /β-CD + SRP), and group 3 (GIII; SRP). Gels were applied in GI and GII at baseline (T0) and 30 days later (T1). Periodontal Probing Depth (PPD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), Bleeding on Probing (BOP) and Visible Plaque Index (VPI) were evaluated at (T0), 30 days (T1) and 60 days after T0 (T2). Bone density was analyzed after 18 months (T3). GII showed the most significant reduction of PPD (2.62 mm; p <0.003), and greatest gain in CAL (2.54 mm p <0.003) at T2. BOP and the VPI had a strong reduction in all groups at T2 (p <0.05), both decreased by ≥5 times and 2 times, respectively, in all groups at T1. Bone density increased in all groups in radiographs (T3). The use of DOX encapsulated in β-CD gel with SRP resulted in significant improvements in clinical periodontal parameters; such molecular inclusion of doxycycline into β-CD in gel for local application is relatively simple and useful in dentistry.

The anti-inflammatory effect of locally delivered nano-doxycycline gel in therapy of chronic periodontitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To date, various drugs as host modulating agents had been suggested as adjunctive treatment modality in the therapy of chronic periodontal disease. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of subgingivally delivered nanostructured doxycycline gel (nDOX) was evaluated and compared to conventional doxycycline gel (DOX) used as adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) in the treatment of moderate chronic periodontitis to reduce probing pocket depth.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Nanostructured doxycycline gel (nDOX) was prepared using spray-drying technique with chitosan (CH) as a matrix polymer, followed by dispersion in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The deepest periodontal pocket in 45 patients suffering from moderate chronic periodontitis was selected. The patients were divided into three groups following scaling and root planning (SRP); group I: SRP + nDOX, group II: SRP + DOX and group III: SRP + placeboCH. Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment level(CAL), as well as ginigival crevicular fluid levels of (GCF) IL-6 and TNF-α were assessed at baseline, 1 and 3 months following local drug application.

RESULTS

Group I showed significant reduction in probing depth and attachment gain compared with group II and III at one and three months period. The inflammatory mediators levels were significantly reduced in all treatment groups at one-month period. Except for group I, the reduced values were observed at three-month period.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that treatment with nDOX gel as an adjunct to SRP had anti-inflammatory effect by improving both clinical parameters and inflammatory markers up to three months period.

Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of oral Treponema species

Treponemes occur in the microflora of the dental plaque. Certain Treponema species that are frequently isolated from chronic periodontitis lesions are involved in its initiation and progression. In addition to mechanical instrumentation, antimicrobial agents are used as an adjunctive treatment modality for periodontitis. Despite its importance for successful antimicrobial treatment, information about susceptibility is limited for Treponema species. The aim of this study was to assess the susceptibility of Treponema denticola strains, Treponema socranskii, and Treponema vincentii to eleven antimicrobial agents. The minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of these antimicrobial agents revealed strain-specific variation. Doxycycline, minocycline, azithromycin, and erythromycin were effective against all Treponema species tested in this study, whereas fluoroquinolones only exhibited an equivalent effectiveness on T. socranskii. The susceptibility of one T. denticola strain, T. socranskii, and T. vincentii to kanamycin was influenced by prior exposure to aerobic conditions. The susceptibility to quinolone drugs varied among strains of T. denticola, although they share an amino acid sequence identity of greater than 99% for DNA gyrase (type II topoisomerase) subunit A. In addition, an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter inhibitor assay for T. denticola indicated that the transport of quinolone drugs is partially related to this transporter, although there may be parallel transport mechanisms. Our results provide important insights into antimicrobial agent-Treponema dynamics and establish a basis for developing an appropriate adjunctive therapy for periodontal disease.

Antibiotics/antimicrobials: systemic and local administration in the therapy of mild to moderately advanced periodontitis

This review gives an update of the current scientific evidence on the efficacy of the adjunctive use of systemic and local antibiotics/antimicrobials in the treatment of periodontitis. In particular, it addresses whether their use can improve the results of nonsurgical mechanical therapy in mild-to-moderate forms of the disease. Large numbers of randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews with meta-analyses have clearly established that adjunctive systemic antibiotics, combined with mechanical debridement, offer clinical improvements additional to those obtained with scaling and root planing alone. These effects are more pronounced in aggressive periodontitis and in initially deep pockets, whereas more limited additional improvements, of 0.3 mm for additional pocket reduction and 0.2 mm for additional clinical attachment gain, have been documented for moderately deep sites (4-6 mm) in patients with chronic periodontitis. The marginal clinical benefit in patients with moderate disease has to be balanced against possible side effects. Notably, it has to be realized that an increasing number of warnings have been articulated against the unrestricted use of antibiotics in treating periodontal diseases because of the emerging global public health issue of bacterial resistance. The effects of the adjunctive local administration of antimicrobials have also been very well documented in several systematic reviews. Overall, in persistent or recurrent localized deep sites, the application of antimicrobials by sustained-delivery devices may offer a benefit of an additional 0.4 mm in pocket depth reduction and 0.3 mm in clinical attachment level gain. In conclusion, the slight additional benefits of adjunctive antimicrobials, which were shown for moderate forms of periodontitis, have to be balanced against their side effects and therefore their prescription should be limited as much as possible.

Doxycycline as an anti-inflammatory agent: updates in dermatology

Doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, is widely used in the field of dermatology for its antibiotic properties, anti-inflammatory properties and good safety profile. Over the past decades, numerous studies have clarified some of the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of doxycycline. In this review article, we aimed to provide an update on recent data on the anti-inflammatory properties of doxycycline and its potential role in cutaneous inflammatory diseases. Better understanding of these mechanisms might offer the practicing clinicians a better use of this therapeutic tool. In addition, research in this field could help clarify pathogenic aspects of inflammatory dermatologic diseases responsive to this medication. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the potential of doxycycline as an anti-inflammatory agent, and the development of new topical vehicles could open ways to new therapeutic possibilities for dermatologists.

Tissue characterization following revascularization of immature dog teeth using different disinfection pastes

Revascularization of immature teeth with necrotic pulps traditionally involves the use of triple antibiotic paste, which may sometimes lead to undesirable complications. The objective of this study was to assess tissue repair in immature dog teeth with apical periodontitis subjected to revascularization, comparing two different pastes used for root canal disinfection. Apical periodontitis was induced in 30 dog premolars. Teeth were randomly divided into three experimental groups: root canals filled with triple antibiotic paste (n = 10); root canals filled with 1% propolis paste (n = 10); and no medication (n = 10). An additional group (n = 10, no intervention) was used as control. After 7 months, the jaws were histologically evaluated for the following variables: newly formed mineralized tissue (present/absent); vital tissue in the canal space (absent/periodontal ligament-like/pulp-like); apical extension of root (present/absent); and severity of inflammatory process (absent/mild/moderate/severe). There were no statistically significant differences among the experimental groups in new mineralized tissue formation and apical root development. The formation of vital tissue in the canal space, in turn, was statistically different between the triple paste and propolis groups: vital tissues were present in all revascularized teeth disinfected with propolis paste (100%), compared to 71% of those disinfected with the triple paste. Severity of inflammatory process was different between the triple paste and no medication groups. The new tissues formed onto canal walls and in the root canal space showed characteristics of cementum and periodontal ligament, respectively. Propolis may have some advantages over the triple paste for the revascularization of immature teeth.

Adjunctive use of essential oils following scaling and root planing -a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Hitherto no study has been published on the effect of the adjunctive administration of essential oils following scaling and root planing (SRP). This study describes the effect of a mouthrinse consisting of essential oils (Cymbopogon flexuosus, Thymus zygis and Rosmarinus officinalis) following SRP by clinical and microbiological variables in patients with generalized moderate chronic periodontitis.

METHODS

Forty-six patients (aged 40-65 years) with moderate chronic periodontitis were randomized in a double-blind study and rinsed their oral cavity following SRP with an essential oil mouthrinse (n  =  23) or placebo (n  =  23) for 14 days. Probing depth (PD), attachment level (AL), bleeding on probing (BOP) and modified sulcus bleeding index (SBI) were recorded at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Subgingival plaque was taken for assessment of major bacteria associated with periodontitis.

RESULTS

AL, PD, BOP and SBI were significantly improved in both groups after three (p   <   0.001) and 6 months (p   ≤   0.015). AL improved significantly better in the test than in the control group after 3 and 6 months (p < 0.001), so did PD after three months in the tendency (p  =  0.1). BOP improved better in the test group after 3 months (p  =  0.065). Numbers of Treponema denticola (p  =  0.044) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (p  =  0.029) decreased more in the test than in the control group after 3 months, those of Tannerella forsythia after 6 months (p  =  0.039). Prevotella micra (p  <  0.001, p  =  0.035) and Campylobacter rectus (p  =  0.002 , p  =  0.012) decreased significantly in both groups after 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The adjunctive use of a mouthrinse containing essential oils following SRP has a positive effect on clinical variables and on bacterial levels in the subgingival biofilm.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

332-12-24092012, DRKS 00009387, German Clinical Trials Register, Freiburg i. Br., 16.09.2015.

[Doxycycline or how to create new with the old?]

Tetracyclines are broad-spectrum antibiotics that interfere with protein synthesis. They were first widely prescribed by dermatologists in the early 1950s in the treatment of acne. More recently, their biological actions on inflammation, proteolysis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, metal chelation, ionophoresis, and bone metabolism were studied. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic enzymes that degrade components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). MMPs have direct or indirect effects on the vascular endothelium and the vascular relaxation/contraction system. The therapeutic effects of tetracyclines and analogues were studied in rosacea, bullous dermatoses, neutrophilic diseases, pyoderma gangrenosum, sarcoidosis, aortic aneurysms, cancer metastasis, periodontitis and autoimmune diseases autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. In addition, downregulation of MMP using doxycycline could be beneficial in reducing vascular dysfunction mediated by MMPs and progressive damage of the vascular wall. We review the nonantibiotic properties of doxycycline and its potential clinical applications.

In situ forming implants for periodontitis treatment with improved adhesive properties

Novel in situ forming implants are presented showing a promising potential to overcome one of the major practical hurdles associated with local periodontitis treatment: limited adhesion to the surrounding tissue, resulting in accidental expulsion of at least parts of the implants from the patients' pockets. This leads to high uncertainties in the systems' residence times at the site of action and in the resulting drug exposure. In the present study, the addition of different types and amounts of plasticizers (acetyltributyl citrate and dibutyl sebacate) as well as of adhesive polymers (e.g., cellulose derivatives such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) is shown to allow for a significant increase in the stickiness of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-based implants. The systems are formed in situ from N-methyl pyrrolidone-based liquid formulations. Importantly, at the same time, good plastic deformability of the implants can be provided and desired drug release patterns can be fine-tuned using several formulation tools. The antimicrobial activity of this new type of in situ forming implants, loaded with doxycycline hyclate, was demonstrated using the agar well diffusion method and multiple Streptococcus strains isolated from the oral microflora of patients suffering from periodontitis.

A systematic review on the effects of local antimicrobials as adjuncts to subgingival debridement, compared with subgingival debridement alone, in the treatment of chronic periodontitis

AIMS

To update the existing scientific evidence on the efficacy of local antimicrobials as adjuncts to subgingival debridement in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty-six papers were selected, reporting data from 52 different investigations. All the studies reported changes in probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) and most in plaque index (PlI) and/or bleeding on probing (BOP). Meta-analyses were performed with the data retrieved from the studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

The overall effect of the subgingival application of antimicrobials was statistically significant (p = 0.000) for both changes in PPD and CAL with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of -0.407 and -0.310 mm respectively. No significant differences occurred for changes in BOP and PlI. Subgingival application of tetracycline fibres, sustained released doxycycline and minocycline demonstrated a significant benefit in PPD reduction (WMD between 0.5 and 0.7 mm). The rest of the tested outcomes demonstrated a high heterogeneity. The local application of chlorhexidine and metronidazole showed a minimal effect when compared with placebo (WMD between 0.1 and 0.4 mm).

CONCLUSIONS

The scientific evidence supports the adjunctive use of local antimicrobials to debridement in deep or recurrent periodontal sites, mostly when using vehicles with proven sustained release of the antimicrobial.

Long-term follow-ups of revascularized immature necrotic teeth: three case reports

Revascularization of immature necrotic teeth is a reliable treatment alternative to conventional apexogenesis or apexification. In case 1, a 12-year-old boy had his necrotic, immature mandibular left second premolar treated with a revascularization technique. At a24-month follow-up, periapical radiolucency had disappeared and thickening of the root wall was observed. In cases 2 and 3, a10-year-old boy had his necrotic, immature, bilateral mandibular second premolars treated with the same modality. At 48-month(in case 2) and 42-month (in case 3) follow-ups, loss of periapical radiolucencies and increases in the root wall thickness were also observed.

The evaluation of doxycycline controlled release gel versus doxycycline controlled release implant in the management of periodontitis

Background:

Investigators have sought different methods to deliver antimicrobials to periodontal pockets. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of locally made doxycycline gel versus locally made doxycycline implant as biodegradable controlled local delivery systems, by evaluating the pharmacological drug release and improvement in gingival status, gain in attachment, and reduction in pocket depth.

Materials and Methods:

Thirty patients with localized periodontal pockets ≥5 mm were randomly divided into three groups. The first group received the doxycycline gel, the second the doxycycline implant, and the third received only scaling and root planing (the control group). The patients in the first two groups were selected for the drug release. Clinical parameters such as gingival index, plaque index, probing depth, and attachment levels were recorded at baseline and the 90^th day. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and saliva samples were collected 1 hour following gel and implant placement and then on the 10^th, 30^th, and 60^th days.

Results:

There was a statistically significant difference in the release of doxycycline from the gel when compared with the implant in the GCF and saliva on the 10^th and 30^th days. All the three groups showed improvement in clinical parameters. The improvements in both gel and implant groups were greater when compared with the control group with no statistically significant difference between the implant and gel systems.

Conclusion:

The use of local delivery of doxycycline through gel and Implant media further enhances the positive changes obtained following scaling and root planing. The release of doxycycline from the implant and the gel was comparable.

Effects of a single topical doxycycline administration adjunctive to mechanical debridement in patients with persistent/recurrent periodontitis but acceptable oral hygiene during supportive periodontal therapy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of a slow release doxycycline gel (SRD) adjunctively administered to non-surgical therapy in subjects with recurrent or persistent periodontitis but acceptable oral hygiene during supportive periodontal care.

MATERIAL & METHODS

In this single blind, parallel group, multicentre study, 202 of 203 recruited periodontal maintenance subjects with recurrent or persistent periodontitis were randomly assigned to subgingival ultrasonic/sonic instrumentation (USI) with (test) or without (control) subsequent administration of SRD in all residual periodontal pockets ≥4 mm. Intergroup differences in probing depth, BOP reductions, treatment time, probing attachment levels were evaluated at 3, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was the inter-group difference in absolute change of probing pocket depth (PPD) 3, 6 and 12 months after intervention.

RESULTS

At baseline, the two groups were comparable. At 3 months, the test group showed a significantly higher decrease in mean probing depth than the control group at 3 months (mean difference = 0.11 mm, 95% CI 0.03-0.19 mm, p = 0.003). Administration of SRD resulted in significantly greater odds of transition of bleeding pockets ≥5 mm to a category of non bleeding sites with PPD ≤4 mm at 3 and 6 months (O.R. = 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.8 at 3 months). At 6 months, SRD benefit was observed only in the deeper pockets. 7.5% of subjects (no significant difference between test and control) showed disease progression (attachment loss ≥2 mm) and were exited from the study. No difference in the incidence of adverse events was observed between groups.

CONCLUSION

The trial results show that topically administered SRD may provide short-term benefit in controlling inflammation and deep pockets in treated periodontal patients participating in a secondary prevention programme and able to maintain a satisfactory level of oral hygiene.

Multiple applications of flurbiprofen and chlorhexidine chips in patients with chronic periodontitis: a randomized, double blind, parallel, 2-arms clinical trial

AIM

The aim of the present randomized, double blind, parallel, 2-arm clinical study was to examine the safety and efficacy of frequent applications of chlorhexidine chip (CHX) and flurbiprofen chip (FBP) in patients with chronic periodontitis.

METHODS

Sixty patients were randomized into CHX and FBP groups. Following OHI and scaling and root planing (SRP), baseline pocket depth (PD) measurements, gingival recession and bleeding on probing (BOP) were performed and repeated at week 4 and 8. The assigned chip was placed at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7.

RESULTS

Mean PD reduction in the CHX group was 2.08 mm (7.17 to 5.09, p < 0.0001). Mean PD reduction in the FBP group was 2.27 mm (6.72 to 4.45, p < 0.0001). Ninety-seven percentage and 95% of these sites exhibited PD reduction ≥1 mm, while 38% and 34% of the sites exhibited PD ≥3 mm (FBP and CHX, respectively). Clinical attachment level gain (1.66 and 1.95 mm, respectively) was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Baseline BOP dropped from 98% and 100% to 24% and 30% for the CHX and FBP groups, respectively (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Frequent applications of CHX and FBP chips resulted in a significant improvement in the periodontal condition in these sites. Furthermore studies will be required to compare this new treatment regimen to SRP or SRP with single chip application.

Single use of tetracycline with and without diclofenac sodium as local drug delivery in pocket therapy: a clinico-microbiological study

AIM

  Local drug delivery is a non-surgical method in the treatment of periodontitis. Different chemotherapeutic agents are used for local drug delivery; one such agent is tetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Recent studies have also shown that the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and acts as host modulator. Thus, an attempt was made to compare and evaluate the efficacy of tetracycline alone and in combination with diclofenac sodium as a local drug delivery.

METHODS

  A total of 36 sites with chronic periodontitis were divided into three groups with 12 sites each (i.e. group A, antibiotics alone; group B, antibiotics in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; and group C, control group). For all the groups, the following parameters (plaque index, papillary bleeding index, probing pocket depth, and microbial analysis) were assessed and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

  The antibiotic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug combination group showed a statistically-significant improvement in clinical parameters and a shift in microbial flora when compared to the group with antibiotics alone. However, the control group failed to show any statistically-significant improvement.

CONCLUSION

  Antibiotics in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are more efficient than using antibiotics alone as local drug delivery for the treatment of periodontal pockets.

The effect of locally delivered doxycycline as an adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing in smokers

BACKGROUND

Locally delivered doxycycline is found to be effective in managing periodontitis as an adjunct to scaling and root planing.

AIM

To evaluate the effect of locally delivered doxycycline (10%) with scaling and root planing in the periodontal treatment of smokers and to compare it with scaling and root planing alone.

METHODS

Twelve smokers with chronic periodontitis and a pocket depth (⩾5 mm) on posterior teeth that bleed on probing were selected. Patients were randomly assigned to scaling and root planing (SRP) or scaling and root planing followed by local application of doxycycline (SRP-D). Plaque, bleeding on probing, gingival recession, clinical attachment level (CAL), and probing depth (PD) were recorded at the baseline, 6 and 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Both groups showed a significant reduction in Plaque, Bleeding on Probing and pocket depth at 6th and 12th week from the baseline. A statistically significant gain of attachment was observed in both groups after treatment. Even though the doxycycline group showed slightly higher attachment gain it was not statistically significant compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

The observations of the study reveal that the additional benefit of topical application of doxycycline as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in smokers is not convincing. However, further clinical studies may be necessary to substantiate the present observations.

Placebo interventions for all clinical conditions

BACKGROUND

Placebo interventions are often claimed to substantially improve patient-reported and observer-reported outcomes in many clinical conditions, but most reports on effects of placebos are based on studies that have not randomised patients to placebo or no treatment. Two previous versions of this review from 2001 and 2004 found that placebo interventions in general did not have clinically important effects, but that there were possible beneficial effects on patient-reported outcomes, especially pain. Since then several relevant trials have been published.

OBJECTIVES

Our primary aims were to assess the effect of placebo interventions in general across all clinical conditions, and to investigate the effects of placebo interventions on specific clinical conditions. Our secondary aims were to assess whether the effect of placebo treatments differed for patient-reported and observer-reported outcomes, and to explore other reasons for variations in effect.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2007), MEDLINE (1966 to March 2008), EMBASE (1980 to March 2008), PsycINFO (1887 to March 2008) and Biological Abstracts (1986 to March 2008). We contacted experts on placebo research, and read references in the included trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised placebo trials with a no-treatment control group investigating any health problem.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. Trials with binary data were summarised using relative risk (a value of less than 1 indicates a beneficial effect of placebo), and trials with continuous outcomes were summarised using standardised mean difference (a negative value indicates a beneficial effect of placebo).

MAIN RESULTS

Outcome data were available in 202 out of 234 included trials, investigating 60 clinical conditions. We regarded the risk of bias as low in only 16 trials (8%), five of which had binary outcomes.In 44 studies with binary outcomes (6041 patients), there was moderate heterogeneity (P < 0.001; I(2) 45%) but no clear difference in effects between small and large trials (symmetrical funnel plot). The overall pooled effect of placebo was a relative risk of 0.93 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88 to 0.99). The pooled relative risk for patient-reported outcomes was 0.93 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.00) and for observer-reported outcomes 0.93 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.02). We found no statistically significant effect of placebo interventions in four clinical conditions that had been investigated in three trials or more: pain, nausea, smoking, and depression, but confidence intervals were wide. The effect on pain varied considerably, even among trials with low risk of bias.In 158 trials with continuous outcomes (10,525 patients), there was moderate heterogeneity (P < 0.001; I(2) 42%), and considerable variation in effects between small and large trials (asymmetrical funnel plot). It is therefore a questionable procedure to pool all the trials, and we did so mainly as a basis for exploring causes for heterogeneity. We found an overall effect of placebo treatments, standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.23 (95% CI -0.28 to -0.17). The SMD for patient-reported outcomes was -0.26 (95% CI -0.32 to -0.19), and for observer-reported outcomes, SMD -0.13 (95% CI -0.24 to -0.02). We found an effect on pain, SMD -0.28 (95% CI -0.36 to -0.19)); nausea, SMD -0.25 (-0.46 to -0.04)), asthma (-0.35 (-0.70 to -0.01)), and phobia (SMD -0.63 (95% CI -1.17 to -0.08)). The effect on pain was very variable, also among trials with low risk of bias. Four similarly-designed acupuncture trials conducted by an overlapping group of authors reported large effects (SMD -0.68 (-0.85 to -0.50)) whereas three other pain trials reported low or no effect (SMD -0.13 (-0.28 to 0.03)). The pooled effect on nausea was small, but consistent. The effects on phobia and asthma were very uncertain due to high risk of bias. There was no statistically significant effect of placebo interventions in the seven other clinical conditions investigated in three trials or more: smoking, dementia, depression, obesity, hypertension, insomnia and anxiety, but confidence intervals were wide.Meta-regression analyses showed that larger effects of placebo interventions were associated with physical placebo interventions (e.g. sham acupuncture), patient-involved outcomes (patient-reported outcomes and observer-reported outcomes involving patient cooperation), small trials, and trials with the explicit purpose of studying placebo. Larger effects of placebo were also found in trials that did not inform patients about the possible placebo intervention.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We did not find that placebo interventions have important clinical effects in general. However, in certain settings placebo interventions can influence patient-reported outcomes, especially pain and nausea, though it is difficult to distinguish patient-reported effects of placebo from biased reporting. The effect on pain varied, even among trials with low risk of bias, from negligible to clinically important. Variations in the effect of placebo were partly explained by variations in how trials were conducted and how patients were informed.

Systemic detection of doxycycline after local administration

OBJECTIVES

Controlled release delivery (CRD) systems are used to extend the half-life of topical antibiotics in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), while avoiding systemic contamination with antibiotics. When multiple periodontitis sites are treated by subgingival application of a one-component copolymer gel containing 14% doxycycline, it is likely that low levels of the antibiotic can be detected in blood by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

METHODS

Twelve patients with severe periodontitis and one single defect per patient were treated with one single subgingival application of a new one-component doxycycline gel (14%) in each defect (the UNISITE group). Furthermore, 12 patients with between 3 and 9 periodontal defects were treated with a single application of the same doxycycline gel in each defect, resulting in 3-9 applications per patient (the MULTISITE group). Doxycycline was separated and quantitatively measured with HPLC using a UV detector.

RESULTS

In saliva, the maximum doxycycline concentration of the MULTISITE patients was nearly 10-fold higher than in the UNISITE group. In GCF specimens, maximum doxycycline concentrations were the same magnitude in both the MULTISITE and UNISITE groups. Only one UNISITE patient showed detectable levels of doxycycline in blood serum (maximum application: 0.18 µg/ml). Six MULTISITE patients exhibited measurable concentrations of doxycycline in their serum samples (maximum values: 0.12-0.76 µg/ml). The mean systemic concentration following application of the doxycycline-containing gel to multiple sites was as high as 160 ng/ml within minutes following application. Within approximately 1 h, this fell to levels below the limit of detection by HPLC (<50 ng/ml).

CONCLUSIONS

Systemic contamination with doxycycline after topical administration may occur even after unisite application if no periodontal dressing is used. Locally administered doxycycline can be identified in the systemic circulation at levels far below those expected to have antibacterial effects. Systemic concentration following application to a single site was always below levels capable of detection by HPLC.

Anti-inflammatory therapy of dry eye

As tear secretion and tear clearance decrease in the dry eye, an inflammatory response is initiated on the ocular surface that appears to involve both soluble and cellular mediators. Although the traditional approach to treating dry eye is to hydrate and lubricate the ocular surface with artificial tears, symptoms and/or sight-threatening corneal disease may persist in some patients on such aqueous enhancement therapies. In these patients, treatment with anti-inflammatory agents, such as cyclosporin A, corticosteroids, tetracyclines, or autologous serum, may be considered. Results of studies investigating the use of these agents are discussed. During treatment, patients should be conscientiously monitored for adverse effects.

Nonsurgical and surgical periodontal therapy in single-rooted teeth

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of tooth related and patient related factors on the success of non-surgical and surgical periodontal therapy. In 41 patients (22 female) with untreated and/or recurrent periodontitis, no therapy, scaling and root planing (SRP), or access flap (AF) were assigned according to probing pocket depth (PPD). PPD and vertical relative attachment level (RAL-V) were obtained initially, 3 and 6 months after therapy. Baseline data were compared according to therapy, jaw, tooth type, and site. Factors influencing clinical parameters were identified using multilevel analyses. Baseline PPDs were deeper interproximally, in the maxilla and at premolars compared to buccal/oral sites, mandibular, and anterior teeth. At 6 months, PPD reduction and RAL-V gain were significantly greater at sites receiving SRP and AF as compared to untreated sites (p < 0.001). PPD reduction and RAL-V gain were significantly less (p < 0.005) in smokers as compared to nosmokers and at interproximal sites (p < 0.0001) as compared to buccal/oral sites. RAL-V gain was less in aggressive periodontitis, and PPD reduction was less in the maxilla (p < 0.001). In sites with greater bone loss and infrabony defects, a poorer response was observed regarding RAL-V gain or PPD reduction, respectively. The conclusions of the study are the following: (1) Nonsurgical and surgical periodontal therapies are effective in single-rooted teeth; (2) severe interproximal bone loss and infrabony defects deteriorate clinical results; and (3) there seem to be more defect-associated (tooth, site) factors influencing treatment outcome than patient-associated factors.

The effect of topical doxycycline usage on gingival crevicular fluid MMP-8 levels of chronic and aggressive periodontitis patients: a pilot study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical subgingival application of doxycycline hyclate (DH) gel adjunctive to non-surgical periodontal therapy on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 levels in chronic and aggressive periodontitis patients. Forty teeth of 10 chronic periodontitis patients and 32 teeth of eight aggressive periodontitis patients were screened for 6 months. Scaling and root planing (SRP) was applied to the control sites and DH gel adjunctive to SRP was applied to the test sites of each patient simultaneously. GCF MMP-8 levels were analysed at baseline, 7 days; and at 1, 3 and 6 months by Sandwich Elisa Method. At 1, 3 and 6 months, probing depth (P < 0.0051) and plaque scores and bleeding on probing values (P = 0.000) significantly decreased in each group when compared with the baseline, but there was no statistically significant difference between the test and control sites. GCF MMP-8 levels reduced presenting statistically significant differences on 7 days, 1, 3 and 6 months in four of the groups (P < 0.05); however, intergroup differences were not statistically significant. Developing functional and immunological-based chair-side MMP tests might serve as useful adjunctive diagnostic tools when monitoring the effects of DH gel application.

Local Drug Delivery in the Treatment of Periodontal Diseases: Assessing the Clinical Significance of the Results

BACKGROUND

Local drug delivery can be used in the management of periodontal patients. However, statistically significant responses to therapy recorded in clinical trials may not be clinically significant.

METHODS

Controlled clinical trials were selected that assessed the capability of local drug delivery to improve periodontal health.

RESULTS

Several local drug delivery systems employed as monotherapies improved periodontal health and provided results that were not statistically significantly different than attained with scaling and root planing (SRP) alone. In contrast, many local drug delivery devices when used as adjuncts to SRP provided a statistically significant enhancement of parameters commonly used to monitor periodontal status. However, mean improvements with respect to probing depth reduction or gain of clinical attachment were often limited to tenths of millimeters. Several devices also achieved specific criteria that can be used to identify clinically significant findings (e.g., number of sites with probing depth reduction >or=2 mm). However, there are conflicting data with respect to the ability of local drug delivery to enhance results of SRP at deep probing sites, and there is limited information relative to its capability to inhibit disease progression or enhance osseous repair in infrabony defects.

CONCLUSION

The decision to use local drug delivery during active treatment or maintenance should be based upon clinical findings, responses to therapy recorded in the literature, desired clinical outcomes, and the patient's dental and medical history.

Supportive periodontal therapy using mechanical instrumentation or 2% minocycline gel: a 12 month randomized, controlled, single masked pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To compare the short-term performance of subgingival local delivery of 2% minocycline gel and conventional subgingival debridement in supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) patients.

METHODS

Forty adult patients having completed active treatment for moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis were included in a randomized, controlled, single masked maintenance care pilot study. Sites with residual pocket probing depths > or =5 mm and bleeding on probing were treated with either minocycline gel (minocycline-group) or scaling and root planing only (debridement-group) at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months. Clinical and microbiological examinations were performed at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.

RESULTS

Full-mouth plaque and bleeding scores remained <10% and <20%, respectively, for both groups throughout the study. In both groups there was a persistent reduction in number of teeth and sites with probing pocket depths > or =5 mm (p<0.05) with no significant differences between the groups. The prevalence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, and Prevotella nigrescens, remained at levels < or =10(5) in the majority of patients and sites in both groups.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study failed to show a difference between local delivery of 2% minocycline gel as mono-therapy and traditional subgingival debridement in patients on SPT.

Impact of local adjuncts to scaling and root planing in periodontal disease therapy: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Chronic periodontitis affects many adults in the United States, some severely enough to threaten tooth loss. Of particular clinical importance is whether scaling and root planing (SRP) accompanied by a local adjunctive therapeutic agent improves outcomes over time compared to SRP alone. The adjunctive therapeutic agents investigated include: tetracycline, minocycline, metronidazole, a group of other antibiotics, chlorhexidine, and a group of antimicrobials. Primary outcomes considered are reductions in probing depth (PD) and gains in clinical attachment level (CAL).

METHODS

RTI-UNC Evidence-Based Practice Center staff searched MEDLINE (1966 through December 2002) and EMBASE (through February 2002) to identify clinical trials published in English that 1) involved adults with chronic periodontitis but no serious comorbidities; 2) tested one or more chemical antimicrobial agents as an adjunct to SRP alone or with a placebo; 3) had a concurrent control group that received the same SRP as the treatment group; 4) reported outcomes for specified, fixed time periods; and 5) if multiple antimicrobials were tested, reported outcomes for each agent separately. We performed qualitative analyses and meta-analyses of PD and CAL effect sizes when the necessary data were available from at least three studies at 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Among the locally administered adjunctive antimicrobials, the most positive results occurred for tetracycline, minocycline, metronidazole, and chlorhexidine. Adjunctive local therapy generally reduced PD levels. Differences between treatment and SRP-only groups in the baseline-to-follow-up period typically favored treatment groups but usually only modestly (e.g., from about 0.1 mm to nearly 0.5 mm) even when the differences were statistically significant. Effects for CAL gains were smaller and statistical significance less common. The marginal improvements in PD and CAL were a fraction of the improvement from SRP alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Whether such improvements, even if statistically significant, are clinically meaningful remains a question. A substantial agenda of future research to address this and other issues (e.g., costs, patient-oriented outcomes) is suggested.

Effect of Locally Delivered Doxycycline Hyclate on Human Fibroblast Attachment to Subgingival Calculus

BACKGROUND

Clinical studies using locally applied doxycycline hyclate (DHV) have demonstrated significant probing depth reduction and gain in clinical attachment as a monotherapy without scaling and root planing. The mechanism for this attachment level gain to the non-root planed tooth is not understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of locally applied doxycycline hyclate on human gingival fibroblast attachment to subgingival calculus on contaminated root surfaces.

METHODS

Two separate experiments were performed, both on subgingival calculus. In experiment 1, teeth with subgingival calculus were treated with either doxcycycline hyclate in bioabsorbable vehicle (DHV) or with vehicle control (VC) in vivo. In experiment 2, teeth with subgingival calculus were treated with DHV, VC, scaling and root planing (SRP), or no treatment in vitro. The amount of cell attachment to calculus-covered root surfaces was quantitatively compared using a fluorescent dye assay and epifluorescence microscope. Values for cell attachment are presented as the mean standard deviation of the mean. The data were evaluated using Student t test.

RESULTS

In both experiments, there was no statistically significant difference in fibroblast attachment in the DHV, VC, or no treatment groups (P >0.05). The SRP group showed significantly more cellular attachment to tooth surfaces formerly covered by subgingival calculus than all other groups (P <0.001). In general, more cells attached to cementum than to calculus. Root chips that showed no attachment to the subgingival calculus also had no cells attached to the adjacent cemental root surface.

CONCLUSION

The addition of doxycycline hyclate in a bioabsorbable vehicle used as a locally delivered drug did not enhance the initial cellular attachment of human gingival fibroblasts to subgingival calculus or contaminated root surfaces.

Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy With Adjunctive Topical Doxycycline: A Double-Masked, Randomized, Controlled Multicenter Study. II. Microbiological Results

BACKGROUND

Topical application of active substances offers an additional option in periodontal therapy. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the administration of a novel, biodegradable 14% doxycycline gel on microbiological findings, in connection with scaling and root planing.

METHODS

One hundred ten patients in three centers (Frankfurt and Heidelberg, Germany; Nijmegen, The Netherlands) with moderate to advanced periodontitis were evaluated in this randomized, double-masked, split-mouth clinical trial. In each patient, three test teeth were randomly assigned to one of three treatment modalities: 1) scaling and root planing (SRP) alone; 2) SRP with subgingival placebo gel (VEH); or 3) SRP and 14% doxycycline gel (DOX). Subgingival plaque samples were analyzed at baseline and 3 and 6 months after therapy for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.), Tannerella forsythensis (T.f.), Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.), and Treponema denticola (T.d.) using a RNA probe. Samples from 10 patients were tested for resistance against doxycycline, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefoxitin, clindamycin, and metronidazole using agar diffusion testing.

RESULTS

The largest decrease in pathogens was found after 3 months, with the most pronounced differences between DOX and SRP (P <0.05). At 6 months, pathogens were still reduced markedly in all groups. Treatment results were consolidated for VEH and DOX, with a slight deterioration for SRP (DOX versus SRP: P <0.001). Resistance was observed to amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, cefoxitin, clindamycin, and metronidazole (four isolates) but not to doxycycline.

CONCLUSION

The addition of subgingival instillation of a 14% doxycycline gel resulted in pronounced reduction of periodontal pathogens after 3 months and stabilizing results up to 6 months after therapy. Resistance to doxycycline was not induced.

Therapy with adjunctive doxycycline local delivery in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and periodontitis

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of subgingival administration of doxycycline as an adjunct to periodontal therapy in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-two paired periodontal defects > or =5.0 mm were treated in 11 patients (35-55 years old). After initial therapy the sites were randomly assigned into test (scaling and root planing+subgingival administration of 10% doxycycline hyclate gel) or control (scaling and root planing+subgingival placebo gel) groups. The clinical parameters of clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD) and gingival margin level (GML) for recession determination were assessed at baseline, after 6 weeks, and 6, 9 and 12 months, using a computerized probe. Data were statistically evaluated using Duncan and F tests.

RESULTS

Between study group comparisons indicated PD reduction and CAL gain were greater in the test group than in the control group at 6 weeks and 6, 9 and 12 months but only statistically significant at 12 months (p<0.05). Within study group comparisons indicated statistically significant differences were found for CAL and PD values favouring the adjunctive doxycycline group from baseline to 6 weeks and 6, 9 and 12 months (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that subgingivally delivered doxycycline hyclate produces additional favorable clinical results to periodontal therapy in type 1 DM patients.