Effects of subgingival irrigation on A. actinomycetemcomitans

Low-cost periodontal therapy

Periodontitis is a complex infectious disease that affects low-income individuals disproportionately. Periodontitis is associated with specific bacterial species and herpesviruses, and successful prevention and treatment of the disease is contingent upon effective control of these pathogens. This article presents an efficacious, highly safe, minimally invasive, practical and low-cost periodontal therapy that involves professional and patient-administered mechanical therapy and antimicrobial agents. The major components are scaling for calculus removal, periodontal pocket irrigation with potent antiseptics, and treatment with systemic antibiotics for advanced disease. Povidone-iodine and sodium hypochlorite have all the characteristics for becoming the first-choice antiseptics in the management of periodontal diseases. Both agents show excellent antibacterial and antiviral properties, are readily available throughout the world, have been safely used in periodontal therapy for decades, offer significant benefits for individuals with very limited financial resources, and are well accepted by most dental professionals and patients. Four per cent chlorhexidine applied with a toothbrush to the most posterior part to the tongue dorsum can markedly reduce or eliminate halitosis in most individuals. Systemic antibiotics are used to treat periodontopathic bacteria that are not readily reached by topical therapy, such as pathogens within gingival tissue, within furcation defects, at the base of periodontal pockets, and on the tongue, tonsils and buccal mucosae. Valuable antibiotic therapies are amoxicillin-metronidazole (250 mg of amoxicillin and 250 mg of metronidazole, three times daily for 8 days) for young and middle-aged patients, and ciprofloxacin-metronidazole (500 mg of each, twice daily for 8 days) for elderly patients and for patients in developing countries who frequently harbor enteric rods subgingivally. Scaling to remove dental calculus and the prudent use of inexpensive antimicrobial agents can significantly retard or arrest progressive periodontitis in the great majority of patients.

Position Paper: The Role of Supra- and Subgingival Irrigation in the Treatment of Periodontal Diseases

This position paper addresses the role of supra- and subgingival irrigation in the treatment of periodontal diseases. It was prepared by the Committee on Research, Science and Therapy of the American Academy of Periodontology. The document is divided into two portions, consisting of supragingival irrigation and subgingival irrigation. In their respective segments, these treatment techniques are assessed as monotherapies and as adjuncts to conventional treatment. The conclusions drawn in this paper represent the position of the American Academy of Periodontology regarding irrigation therapy in the treatment of periodontal diseases.

Local Anti-Infective Therapy: Mechanical and Physical Approaches. A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Although mechanical non-surgical therapy (scaling and root planing) is the most common means of initial treatment of periodontal diseases, the relative clinical efficacy of various methods, including manual versus machine-driven, with or without adjunctive agents, has not been determined.

RATIONALE

This systematic review analyzes the literature in an effort to identify the most effective therapies, based on both clinical and patient-centered outcomes.

FOCUSED QUESTION

In patients with periodontitis, what is the effect of mechanically-driven instrumentation (e.g., power-driven) and/or subgingival irrigation with and without manual instrumentation compared to manual instrumentation alone?

SEARCH PROTOCOL

Two investigators examined MEDLINE and the Cochrane Oral Health Group specialized registry for clinical trials published in English. Hand searches were performed of the International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry, Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Journal of Periodontology, and Journal of Periodontal Research. Searches were performed for articles published through April 2002. Editors of these journals were asked to provide information on articles currently under review. In addition, an electronic discussion group on periodontal diseases and treatment was contacted, as were manufacturers of manual and mechanical instruments and of adjunctive agents.

SELECTION CRITERIA

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Only randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, or case-control studies at least 3 months long were included. All studies had to compare manual instrumentation (MI; scaling and root planing [SRP]) alone with some other form of non-surgical therapy. These included MI versus mechanically-driven instruments (MDI) alone; MI versus MI plus MDI; MI versus MDI plus an agent (e.g., chlorhexidine); and MI versus subgingival irrigation (SGI) delivered in conjunction with MI or MDI.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Studies not meeting the inclusion criteria or those treating periodontal diseases as a manifestation or complication of some other disease or disorder were not included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, and gingival recession were the primary outcomes. Because of the heterogeneity of the patient populations, treatments, and outcome measures, meta-analysis was not appropriate. Only in-study data were compared. Four of the studies required extrapolating data from figures and graphs, resulting in questionable accuracy.

MAIN RESULTS

1. Nine studies, representing a study population of 129, were included in the review. 2. Five studies compared MI with MDI alone. The other 4 compared MI alone to MI plus SGI or subgingival tissue treatment. 3. There was comparable efficacy between MI and MDI when treating single-rooted teeth. 4. The use of SGI or subgingival tissue treatment as an adjunct to MI provided no additional benefit compared to MI alone. 5. Findings reported in the review must be interpreted with considerable caution, as lack of study heterogeneity made meta-analysis unfeasible and the need to extrapolate outcomes values from graphs and figures may have resulted in some inaccuracy.

REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS

1. Manual and mechanically-driven instrumentation appears comparable in affecting improved clinical outcomes. 2. Instrumentation time for MI and MDI were similar, except for 1 study in which MDI was significantly shorter. 3. Adjunctive SGI plus MI and subgingival tissue treatment result in similar clinical outcomes when compared to MI alone. 4. If study data are to be effectively and analytically combined to facilitate meaningful comparisons of treatment outcomes, detailed and standardized study designs must be developed and used consistently in clinical trials.

A case of localized juvenile periodontitis: treatment and 3 years follow-up with superimposable radiographs

A 17-year-old male patient with localized juvenile periodontitis was treated by subgingival instrumentation with full thickness flap on the lower molars, combined with a 3-week course of systemic tetracycline, and a programme of supervised oral hygiene. The treatment was rapidly followed by dramatic clinical and microbiological improvement. However, despite good oral hygiene, gingival inflammation recurred at regular intervals. It was necessary to maintain the clinical results by periodic subgingival instrumentation with an ultrasonic scaler. Healing of alveolar bone was monitored in the lower 1st molar regions over 3 years by using superimposable radiographs. Quantitative analysis of bone density performed with a high-resolution digitalisation technique showed a considerable improvement 1 year after therapy. However, continuous remodelling, probably related to variations in inflammation, occurred during the 3 postoperative years.

Hydrogen peroxide: a review of its use in dentistry

Several dentifrices that contain hydrogen peroxide are currently being marketed. The increased use of bleaching agents containing (or generating) H2O2 prompted this review of the safety of H2O2 when used in oral hygiene. Daily exposure to the low levels of H2O2 present in dentifrices is much lower than that of bleaching agents that contain or produce high levels of H2O2 for an extended period of time. Hydrogen peroxide has been used in dentistry alone or in combination with salts for over 70 years. Studies in which 3% H2O2 or less were used daily for up to 6 years showed occasional transitory irritant effects only in a small number of subjects with preexisting ulceration, or when high levels of salt solutions were concurrently administered. In contrast, bleaching agents that employ or generate high levels of H2O2 or organic peroxides can produce localized oral toxicity following sustained exposure if mishandled. Potential health concerns related to prolonged hydrogen peroxide use have been raised, based on animal studies. From a single study using the hamster cheek pouch model, 30% H2O2 was referred to as a cocarcinogen in the oral mucosa. This (and later) studies have shown that at 3% or less, no cocarcinogenic activity or adverse effects were observed in the hamster cheek pouch following lengthy exposure to H2O2. In patients, prolonged use of hydrogen peroxide decreased plaque and gingivitis indices. However, therapeutic delivery of H2O2 to prevent periodontal disease required mechanical access to subgingival pockets. Furthermore, wound healing following gingival surgery was enhanced due to the antimicrobial effects of topically administered hydrogen peroxide. For most subjects, beneficial effects were seen with H2O2 levels above 1%.

The role of subgingival irrigations in the treatment of periodontitis

While the efficacy of oral irrigations with antimicrobial agents on the clinical and microbial parameters of gingivitis is well established, the study of the efficacy of intrapocket irrigants on periodontitis has yielded conflicting and inconclusive results regarding both clinical and microbiological parameters. The overall goal of this review paper is to summarize the available information on the efficacy of intrapocket irrigation in the treatment of patients with periodontitis. The following topics are addressed: 1) the penetrability of the irrigant; 2) pocket irrigation without scaling and root planing; 3) professional pocket irrigation following scaling and root planing; 4) irrigations between recalls; and 5) safety of intrapocket irrigation. Single irrigation of periodontal pockets for short periods of time before or after scaling and root planing has limited effects on periodontal healing. However, continuous irrigation of the periodontal lesion with agents such as povidone iodine during thorough scaling and root planing, such as that carried out under local anesthesia, has promise as an antimicrobial adjunct in periodontal therapy.

Suppression of subgingival Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in localized juvenile periodontitis by systemic tetracycline

The current study assessed the clinical and microbiological effects of systemic antimicrobial therapy alone in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans-infected adolescents with periodontal disease. The study involved 6 localized juvenile periodontitis patients 13-18 years of age, who harbored high numbers of A. actinomycetemcomitans in subgingival plaque samples. The periodontal lesions were microbiologically monitored by selective culture, and clinically assessed for probing pocket depth and periodontal attachment level 3 months prior to baseline, and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months posttreatment. Tetracycline-HCl (250 mg/QID) was prescribed until 1 week after subgingival A. actinomycetemcomitans was no longer detectable or for a maximum of 8 weeks. During 3 months prior to treatment, pocket depth was unchanged, and was then significantly reduced from an average of 7.1 mm to 5.1 mm 12 months after treatment (p = 0.02). The mean change in clinical attachment level was a gain of 1.4 mm between baseline and 12 months (p = 0.02). 3 of the 6 patients were still infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans after 8 weeks of antibiotic therapy and 4 subjects were infected at 12 months. Numbers of A. actinomycetemcomitans were still suppressed in most lesions. There was a strong association between mean numbers of A. actinomycetemcomitans in periodontal pockets and mean change in probing attachment level at any given time point. For 22 available comparisons, derived from all time points, there was a strong association (r = 0.68) between subgingival A. actinomycetemcomitans and change in probing attachment level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of oral irrigation with a magnetic water treatment device on plaque and calculus

Calculus formation on tooth surfaces is analogous to the formation of lime and scale deposits in plumbing. Magnetic water devices have been shown to significantly reduce scale deposits in industry; therefore an oral irrigator with a magnetic water device may have a similar effect on calculus. To test this hypothesis, a double-blind clinical study was established using 64 irrigators, 30 of which had their magnetic devices removed. 54 patients with heavy supragingival calculus were given irrigators at random after prophylaxis. Instructions were given to irrigate twice a day, particularly the lower 6 anterior teeth. The patients were also told not to floss these 6 teeth which were to be the study teeth. They were examined after 3 months and measurements were taken of the accretions adhering to the study teeth. No attempt was made to determine whether the adhering material was hard or soft so it must be assumed that at least some of the measured material was also plaque. The measurements of the group using an irrigator with a magnetic device showed a 44% greater reduction in calculus volume (p < 0.0005) and a 42% greater reduction in area (p < 0.0001) over the group using an unmagnetized irrigator. There appears to be a statistically significant difference in supragingival accretion volumes between conventional irrigation and using an irrigator with a magnetic water treatment device.

Clinical effectiveness of subgingival irrigation with a pulsated jet irrigator versus syringe

Previous studies have shown clinical and microbiological improvement with subgingival irrigation particularly after scaling and root planing. In this study we monitored the effects of saline irrigation on non-treated periodontal pockets. Ten subjects with severe periodontal disease and symmetrical lesions on multirooted teeth were selected. They had not received periodontal treatment or antibiotics for the previous 6 months. Patients were given simplified oral hygiene instructions. Neither scaling nor root planing was provided during the study. Two teeth were randomly selected per quadrant for subgingival irrigation with saline solution. One side was treated with a syringe and the other side with a pulsated jet irrigator with a modified tip, professionally administered. Clinical parameters (pocket depth, plaque index, gingival index, crevicular fluid, bleeding index, attachment level, and subgingival microflora) were evaluated on days 0, 15, 30, 60, and 90. Both subgingival irrigation products induced changes (reductions) in these indices during the study. Significant differences (P less than 0.001) with the oral irrigator were found for the following parameters: microscopy, pocket depth, crevicular fluid, and plaque index. In this study, professionally administered saline irrigation with a pulsated jet irrigator was more effective than syringe treatment with the same solution. Neither treatment resulted in a detectable gain in probing attachment level. Since gain in attachment level is achievable by other techniques, neither of these subgingival irrigation procedures alone can be considered adequate for periodontal therapy.

Report of the Committee on Scientific Investigation of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry

The growth in the dental literature continues to escalate, as evidenced by the publication of at least 326 new books in 1988 and 1989 and more than 20 new journals in 1989. There still appears to be undue emphasis on quantity instead of quality of research. This proliferation in the literature poses ever increasing difficulties to this Committee in filtering out the articles that are of particular interest to the members of the Academy and identifying those that are most likely to have a major impact on dental practice and service. The subjects covered include periodontics, caries and preventive dentistry, craniomandibular disorders, occlusion, pulp biology, ceramics, and restorative dental materials.