The effect of tetracycline and/or scaling on human periodontal disease

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of scaling and root planing with or without adjunctive tetracycline therapy in the treatment of [bacterial] periodontitis in humans. The presence of plaque, gingival inflammation, probing depths and attachment levels was assessed for all teeth in 12 patients with chronic, advanced periodontitis. After an initial examination all patients were given detailed oral hygiene instructions. The teeth in 1/2 of each arch were then scaled and root planed. The teeth in the contralateral half were not treated. Six patients were given tetracycline (1 g/day) during the 1st and 2nd wk and the 7th and 8th wk of the trial. The study included 4 different treatment groups: no treatment, scaling and root planing alone, tetracycline administration alone and scaling and root planing combined with tetracycline administration. All patients were reexamined at 8 and 25 wk subsequent to the initiation of therapy. Both P1I and GI scores decreased significantly in all groups. The GI scores were significantly lower in the scaled and root planed areas as compared to the contralateral sides at the 8- and 25 wk examinations. The P1I score was lower in the scaled and root planed areas only at the 25 wk interval. The gingival probing depths were reduced in all groups. A significantly greater decrease in probing depth was noted in scaled and root planed areas. There was a trend to gain of attachment in the treated areas but the magnitude of the gain was very small. The findings of the trial also revealed that the administration of tetracycline had only a minor effect on the parameters examined.