A CONTROLLED MULTICENTER STUDY OF ADJUNCTIVE USE OF TETRACYCLINE PERIODONTAL FIBERS IN MANDIBULAR CLASS-II FURCATIONS WITH PERSISTENT BLEEDING

The aim of this randomized single-blind multicenter controlled clinica l trial was to clinically evaluate the effectiveness of adjunctive loc al controlled drug delivery in the control of bleeding on probing in m andibular class II furcations during maintenance care. 127 patients pr esenting with a class II mandibular furcation with bleeding on probing were included in the study. They had been previously treated for peri odontitis and were participating in supportive care programs in period ontal speciality practices. Treatments consisted of scaling and root p laning with oral hygiene instructions (control) and scaling and root p laning and oral hygiene combined with local controlled drug delivery w ith tetracycline fibers (test). The following outcomes were evaluated at baseline and 3 and 6 months after therapy at the furcation site: bl eeding on controlled force probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PD) an d clinical attachment levels (CAL). Levels of oral hygiene and smoking status were also assessed. Both test and controls resulted in signifi cant improvements of BOP and PD at 3 and 6 months. The test treatment, however, resulted in significantly better improvements: BOP decreased by 52% in the control group and by 70% in the test group at 3 months; at 6 months. however, the difference was no longer significant. The t est treatment resulted in a 0.5 mm greater reduction of PD than the co ntrol at 3 months, the improvement was highly significant but its dura tion did not extend until the 6 months evaluation. No differences were observed in terms of changes in GAL. These data indicate that additio n of tetracycline fibers to mechanical therapy alone resulted in impro ved control of periodontal parameters during periodontal maintenance o f class II mandibular furcations. Short duration of the effect, howeve r, requires further investigations to optimize conservative treatment of these challenging defects.