EVALUATION OF PERIODONTAL TREATMENTS USING CONTROLLED-RELEASE TETRACYCLINE FIBERS - CLINICAL-RESPONSE

THE PURPOSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION was to evaluate the clinical efficac y of controlled-release tetracycline fiber therapy in adult periodonti tis patients, One hundred-twenty-two (122) adult patients from 3 denta l centers were enrolled at baseline for this study. Each patient provi ded at least one site in each of four quadrants that was greater than or equal to 5 mm and bled on probing. One or two such sites were selec ted as test sites and were randomly assigned to receive one of four tr eatments: scaling and root planing (S), scaling and root planing plus tetracycline fiber for 10 days (SF), fiber therapy alone for 10 days ( F), or two 10-day serial fiber applications (FF). After treatment, no periodontal maintenance or supportive care was provided until the end of this 12-month study. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque, and bleeding on probing (BOP) were measured at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months following treatment. Repeated PD and CAL measurements were taken at three locations within each site and a veraged for each site. One hundred-sixteen (116) subjects completed th e study. All treatments resulted in similar improvements in clinical p arameters compared to baseline and were equally effective in the treat ment of periodontitis as measured by probing depth reduction, clinical attachment level gain, and reduction of bleeding on probing. The clin ical response, established primarily by 3 months following therapy, wa s generally sustained in all treatment groups for 12 months without th e benefit of supportive maintenance therapy.