EFFECTS OF TETRACYCLINE-CONTAINING GEL AND A MIXTURE OF TETRACYCLINE AND CITRIC ACID-CONTAINING GEL ON NONSURGICAL PERIODONTAL THERAPY

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO ASSESS the clinical and microbiological effects of a newly developed root conditioning gel system containing tetracycline or a mixture of tetracycline and citric acid on non-surgical periodontal therapy. Sixty-four (64) single-rooted teeth with a probing depth of 4 to 6 mm were randomly subjected to one of the following four treatments; 1) root planing alone (RP group); 2) tetracycline-containing gel alone (TCG group); 3) root planing plus tetracycline-containing gel (RP+TCG group); or 4) root planing plus a mixture of tetracycline and citric acid-containing gel (RP+TC-CAG group). Probing depth, attachment level, and tooth mobility were measured and the presence of dental plaque and gingival inflammation was recorded at baseline and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Subgingival plaque samples from each site were collected at the same visits and examined with phase contrast microscopy for proportions of motile rods and spirochetes. Plaque index, gingival sulcus bleeding index (SBI), probing depth, and attachment level decreased significantly in all groups compared to the baseline values (P < 0.05). A significant decrease in probing pocket depth was noted after 12 weeks in RP+TC-CAG group compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Significantly more gain in attachment was detected in the RP+TC-CAG group compared to the TCG group (P < 0.05). Tooth mobility scores also decreased later in the study. A significant decrease in the proportion of motile rods was found primarily in the RP+TC-CAG group. There was a significant decrease of the proportion of spirochetes in all groups. The results indicated that use of a mixture of tetracycline and citric acid containing-gel was effective in improving gingival health and in changing subgingival microflora.