Elsevier

Dental Abstracts

Volume 60, Issue 1, January–February 2015, Page e21
Dental Abstracts

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Systemic metronidazole

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.denabs.2014.05.051Get rights and content

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Background

Periodontal treatment is usually designed to remove subgingival biofilms and microbial deposits from the root surfaces to reduce tissue destruction, control causative agents, and restore the subgingival microflora to one supporting a healthy periodontium. Scaling and root planing (SRP) is clinically effective in reducing inflammation and probing pocket depth while improving clinical attachment level (CAL). However, SRP is unable to access all aspects of deep pockets, furcations, and concavities

Methods

The literature search included MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trial Register, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, CINAHL, Science Direct, ISI Web of Knowledge, and SCOPUS. A manual search of several dental journals was also conducted. The six studies included in the meta-analysis were all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a parallel design. These were reviewed in the meta-analysis according to Cochrane Collaboration and PRISMA

Results

Compared to SRP alone, SRP + MET produced a significant reduction in probing pocket depth, a significant increase in CAL gain, and a significant reduction in BOP index. No significant difference was noted in suppuration reduction. No adverse events occurred that were related to treatment.

Discussion

The meta-analysis indicates that the adjunctive use of MET with SRP is highly effective in treating chronic periodontitis. However, future studies are needed to determine the optimal dosage of MET to use.

Clinical Significance

The clinical benefits achieved with a combination of MET and SRP appear sufficient to use this approach for patients with chronic periodontitis. However, only six studies were available that assessed these outcomes, so more studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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Sgolastra F, Severino M, Petrucci A, et al: Effectiveness of metronidazole as an adjunct to scaling and root planning in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Periodont Res 49:10-19, 2014

Reprints available from F Sgolastra, School of Dentistry, Dental Clinic, Univ of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 1, Bldg Delta 6, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy; fax: 0390862433835; e-mail: [email protected]

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