Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of tetracycline fiber (used as local drug delivery) along with scaling and root planing for the treatment of chronic periodontitis, and compare the results with those ensuing after scaling and root planing alone.

Material and methods: A total of 50 patients were selected for the study. The treatment sites were divided into two groups by a split mouth technique. In each patient, periodontal pockets were treated with scaling and root planing alone (control site), or treated by scaling and root planing followed by placement of tetracycline fiber (test site), with the aim of evaluating Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in chronic periodontitis. Gingival index, probing depth, clinical attachment levels and quantitative and qualitative analysis of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was carried out at baseline and 14 day after treatment. The significance of any difference between test and control sites was tested using independent sample Student's t tests.

Results: After fourteen days, there was a statistically significant improvement in all variables including gingival index score, pocket probing depth, clinical attachment levels and reduction in colony counts of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. However, inter group comparison showed statistically significant improvement only in the colony count of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in the test group.

Conclusion: When compared with scaling and root planing alone, tetracycline fiber therapy along with scaling and root planing improves periodontal parameters and significantly reduces bacterial colony count in treatment of chronic periodontitis.

Keywords: Collagen, periodontitis, tetracycline fibers, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans