Short-term effects of triclosan on healing following subgingival scaling

The present clinical trial was performed to evaluate short-term effects of a triclosan-containing dentifrice/gel combination on soft tissue healing, when applied supra-/sub-gingivally at periodontal sites treated with scaling and root planing. 16 subjects with moderate periodontitis participated in a 2x2-week, split-mouth designed clinical trial. 2 combinations of gel/dentifrice (the test combination containing triclosan) were used. 2 pairs of contralateral sites with probing pocket depth (PPD) greater than or equal to 5 mm, and which bled on probing (BoP +) were selected in each patient as experimental units. A baseline examination included assessments of PPD, BoP, gingival index scores, plaque index scores, and the composition of the subgingival microbiota (dark-field microscopy). The assigned quadrant was anaesthetized and the teeth exposed to meticulous scaling and root planing. Immediately after the completion of mechanical therapy, either the test or control gel was applied subgingivally at the experimental sites. The volunteer was instructed to brush his/her teeth with an assigned dentifrice and to apply the gel (via a custom-made stent) supragingivally 2x daily for the following 2 weeks. He/she was recalled on day 7 for a second professional subgingival gel application. Re-examinations were carried out on days 2, 7 and 14 after treatment. 1-week wash-out periods separated the 2 experimental periods. The mean PPD reductions (between days 0 and 14) were 1.8 mm and 1.9 mm for the test and control gel/dentifrice sites. The reduction in BoP and gingival index scores was significantly greater during the test than during the control regimen. No significant differences were observed between the 2 regimens regarding plaque scores and composition of the subgingival microbiota. The findings from the present investigation demonstrated that triclosan, applied both sub-and supra-gingivally reduced soft tissue inflammation following scaling and root planing.