THE ROLE OF LOCAL-DRUG DELIVERY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PERIODONTAL-DISEASES - A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

THIS REVIEW ARTICLE EVALUATES the role of local drug delivery systems in the management of periodontal diseases. The efficacy of several loc al delivery devices (i.e., tetracycline fibers, metronidazole and mino cycline gels, chlorhexidine chips, and doxycycline polymer) which are either commercially available in the United States or abroad, or are c urrently under consideration for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ap proval are discussed. The drug delivery systems are assessed with rega rd to their functional characteristics, effectiveness as a monotherapy , as compared to scaling and root planing, and ability to enhance conv entional therapy. Furthermore, controversies associated with local del ivery are addressed (e.g., induction of bacterial resistant strains, t he efficacy of systemic versus local drug delivery, and whether local drug delivery should function as an alternative or as an adjunct to co nventional treatment).