SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF TRICLOSAN ON HEALING FOLLOWING SUBGINGIVAL SCALING

The present clinical trial was performed to evaluate short-term effect s of a triclosan-containing dentifrice/gel combination on soft tissue healing, when applied supra-/sub-gingivally at periodontal sites treat ed with scaling and root planing. 16 subjects with moderate periodonti tis participated in a 2x2-week, split-mouth designed clinical trial. 2 combinations of gel/dentifrice (the test combination containing tricl osan) were used. 2 pairs of contralateral sites with probing pocket de pth (PPD) greater than or equal to 5 mm, and which bled on probing (Bo P +) were selected in each patient as experimental units. A baseline e xamination included assessments of PPD, BoP, gingival index scores, pl aque index scores, and the composition of the subgingival microbiota ( dark-field microscopy). The assigned quadrant was anaesthetized and th e teeth exposed to meticulous scaling and root planing. Immediately af ter the completion of mechanical therapy, either the test or control g el 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 fo r the following 2 weeks. He/she was recalled on day 7 for a second pro fessional subgingival gel application. Re-examinations were carried ou t on days 2, 7 and 14 after treatment. 1-week wash-out periods separat ed 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/dentifric e sites. The reduction in BoP and gingival index scores was significan tly greater during the test than during the control regimen. No signif icant differences were observed between the 2 regimens regarding plaqu e scores and composition of the subgingival microbiota. The findings f rom the present investigation demonstrated that triclosan, applied bot h sub-and supra-gingivally reduced soft tissue inflammation following scaling and root planing.