A Randomized, Double-Masked Clinical Trial Comparing Four Periodontitis Treatment Strategies: 1-Year Clinical Results

Metronidazole may display anti-inflammatory features in periodontitis treatment: A scoping review

AIM

Metronidazole (MTZ) is an antimicrobial agent used to treat anaerobic infections. It has been hypothesized that MTZ may also have anti-inflammatory properties, but the evidence is limited and has not been previously reviewed. Thus, this scoping review aimed to answer the following question: "What is the evidence supporting anti-inflammatory properties of metronidazole that are not mediated by its antimicrobial effects?"

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR statement. Five databases were searched up to January 2023 for studies evaluating the anti-inflammatory properties of MTZ used as monotherapy for treating infectious and inflammatory diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 719 records were identified, and 27 studies (21 in vivo and 6 in vitro) were included. The studies reported experimental evidence of MTZ anti-inflammatory effects on (1) innate immunity (barrier permeability, leukocyte adhesion, immune cell populations), (2) acquired immunity (lymphocyte proliferation, T-cell function, cytokine profile), and (3) wound healing/resolution of inflammation.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, this scoping review supported a potential anti-inflammatory effect of MTZ in periodontitis treatment. We recommend that future clinical studies should be conducted to evaluate specific MTZ anti-inflammatory pathways in the treatment of periodontitis.

Five-year radiological findings from a randomized controlled trial of four periodontitis treatment strategies

Radiographic findings from long-term studies of periodontitis treatment have rarely been reported. Although bone destruction is a prominent feature of periodontitis, the long-term effect on alveolar bone levels of different treatment strategies, with or without adjunctive metronidazole (MTZ), has not been reported. We investigated the 5-year radiographic outcome of therapy in patient groups treated with conventional scaling and root planing (SRP) or same-day full-mouth disinfection (FDIS), with or without adjunctive MTZ. Following a 3-month oral hygiene phase, 184 periodontitis patients were randomly allocated to one of four treatment regimens: (i) FDIS+MTZ; (ii) FDIS+placebo; (iii) SRP+MTZ; or (iv) SRP+placebo. Following active treatment, patients received biannual maintenance. In total, 161 patients (87.5%) completed the 5-year follow-up examination, at which the radiographic bone level (RBL), clinical attachment level, probing pocket depth, presence of plaque, and bleeding were recorded again. At the 5-year follow up examination, minor radiological bone loss was observed in the intervention groups FDIS+placebo, SRP+MTZ, and SRP+placebo; by contrast, the FDIS+MTZ group did not show any change in RBL. Full-mouth disinfection did not generally perform better than conventional SRP performed over a period of 2 to 4 weeks.

Europe's contribution to the evaluation of the use of systemic antimicrobials in the treatment of periodontitis

This narrative review celebrates Europe's contribution to the current knowledge on systemically administered antimicrobials in periodontal treatment. Periodontitis is the most frequent chronic noncommunicable human disease. It is caused by dysbiotic bacterial biofilms and is commonly treated with subgingival instrumentation. However, some sites/patients do not respond adequately, and its limitations and shortcomings have been recognized. This has led to the development of alternative or adjunctive therapies. One is the use of antimicrobials to target bacteria in subgingival biofilms in the periodontal pocket, which can be targeted directly through the pocket entrance with a locally delivered antibiotic or systemically by oral, intravenous, or intramuscular methods. Since the early 20th century, several studies on systemic antibiotics have been undertaken and published, especially between 1990 and 2010. Europe's latest contribution to this topic is the first European Federation of Periodontology, S3-level Clinical Practice Guideline, which incorporates recommendations related to the use of adjuncts to treat stage I-III periodontitis. Understanding the etiopathogenesis of periodontal diseases, specifically periodontitis, has influenced the use of systemic periodontal antibiotic therapy. Randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews with meta-analyses have demonstrated the clinical advantages of adjunctive systemic antimicrobials. However, current recommendations are restrictive due to concerns about antibiotic misuse and the increase in microbial antibiotic resistance. European researchers have contributed to the use of systemic antimicrobials in the treatment of periodontitis through clinical trials and by providing rational guidelines. Nowadays, European researchers are exploring alternatives and directing clinical practice by providing evidence-based guidelines to limit the use of systemic antimicrobials.

Full-mouth treatment modalities (within 24 hours) for periodontitis in adults

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent, chronic inflammation that causes damage to the soft tissues and bones supporting the teeth. Conventional treatment is quadrant scaling and root planing (the second step of periodontal therapy), which comprises scaling and root planing of teeth in one quadrant of the mouth at a time, with the four different sessions separated by at least one week. Alternative protocols for anti-infective periodontal therapy have been introduced to help enhance treatment outcomes: full-mouth scaling (subgingival instrumentation of all quadrants within 24 hours), or full-mouth disinfection (subgingival instrumentation of all quadrants in 24 hours plus adjunctive antiseptic). We use the older term 'scaling and root planing' (SRP) interchangeably with the newer term 'subgingival instrumentation' in this iteration of the review, which updates one originally published in 2008 and first updated in 2015.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical effects of full-mouth scaling or full-mouth disinfection (within 24 hours) for the treatment of periodontitis compared to conventional quadrant subgingival instrumentation (over a series of visits at least one week apart) and to evaluate whether there was a difference in clinical effects between full-mouth disinfection and full-mouth scaling.

SEARCH METHODS

An information specialist searched five databases up to 17 June 2021 and used additional search methods to identify published, unpublished and ongoing studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) lasting at least three months that evaluated full-mouth scaling and root planing within 24 hours, with or without adjunctive use of an antiseptic, compared to conventional quadrant SRP (control). Participants had a clinical diagnosis of (chronic) periodontitis according to the International Classification of Periodontal Diseases from 1999. A new periodontitis classification was launched in 2018; however, we used the 1999 classification for inclusion or exclusion of studies, as most studies used it. We excluded studies of people with systemic disorders, taking antibiotics or with the older diagnosis of 'aggressive periodontitis'.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Several review authors independently conducted data extraction and risk of bias assessment (based on randomisation method, allocation concealment, examiner blinding and completeness of follow-up). Our primary outcomes were tooth loss and change in probing pocket depth (PPD); secondary outcomes were change in probing attachment (i.e. clinical attachment level (CAL)), bleeding on probing (BOP), adverse events and pocket closure (the number/proportion of sites with PPD of 4 mm or less after treatment). We followed Cochrane's methodological guidelines for data extraction and analysis.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 20 RCTs, with 944 participants, in this updated review. No studies assessed the primary outcome tooth loss. Thirteen trials compared full-mouth scaling and root planing within 24 hours without the use of antiseptic (FMS) versus control, 13 trials compared full-mouth scaling and root planing within 24 hours with adjunctive use of an antiseptic (FMD) versus control, and six trials compared FMS with FMD. Of the 13 trials comparing FMS versus control, we assessed three at high risk of bias, six at low risk of bias and four at unclear risk of bias. We assessed our certainty about the evidence as low or very low for the outcomes in this comparison. There was no evidence for a benefit for FMS over control for change in PPD, gain in CAL or reduction in BOP at six to eight months (PPD: mean difference (MD) 0.03 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.14 to 0.20; 5 trials, 148 participants; CAL: MD 0.10 mm, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.26; 5 trials, 148 participants; BOP: MD 2.64%, 95% CI -8.81 to 14.09; 3 trials, 80 participants). There was evidence of heterogeneity for BOP (I² = 50%), but none for PPD and CAL. Of the 13 trials comparing FMD versus control, we judged four at high risk of bias, one at low risk of bias and eight at unclear risk of bias. At six to eight months, there was no evidence for a benefit for FMD over control for change in PPD or CAL (PPD: MD 0.11 mm, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.27; 6 trials, 224 participants; low-certainty evidence; CAL: 0.07 mm, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.24; 6 trials, 224 participants; low-certainty evidence). The analyses found no evidence of a benefit for FMD over control for BOP (very low-certainty evidence). There was no evidence of heterogeneity for PPD or CAL, but considerable evidence of heterogeneity for BOP, attributed to one study. There were no consistent differences in these outcomes between intervention and control (low- to very low-certainty evidence). Of the six trials comparing FMS and FMD, we judged two trials at high risk of bias, one at low risk of bias and three as unclear. At six to eight months, there was no evidence of a benefit of FMD over FMS for change in PPD or gain in CAL (PPD: MD -0.11 mm, 95% CI -0.30 to 0.07; P = 0.22; 4 trials, 112 participants; low-certainty evidence; CAL: MD -0.05 mm, 95% CI -0.23 to -0.13; P = 0.58; 4 trials, 112 participants; low-certainty evidence). There was no evidence of a difference between FMS and FMD for BOP at any time point (P = 0.98; 2 trials, 22 participants; low- to very low-certainty evidence). There was evidence of heterogeneity for BOP (I² = 52%), but not for PPD or CAL. Thirteen studies predefined adverse events as an outcome; three reported an event after FMD or FMS. The most important harm identified was an increase in body temperature. We assessed the certainty of the evidence for most comparisons and outcomes as low because of design limitations leading to risk of bias, and the small number of trials and participants, leading to imprecision in the effect estimates.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The inclusion of nine new RCTs in this updated review has not changed the conclusions of the previous version of the review. There is still no clear evidence that FMS or FMD approaches provide additional clinical benefit compared to conventional mechanical treatment for adult periodontitis. In practice, the decision to select one approach to non-surgical periodontal therapy over another should include patient preference and the convenience of the treatment schedule.

Effects of Metronidazole as an Adjunct to Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy on Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetics

Treating periodontitis with metronidazole (MET) as an adjunct to scaling root planing (SRP) is suggested to have inconsistent effects on insulin resistance (IR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This paper will present the effects of MET, in addition to SRP, on the homeostatis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR). A three-arm clinical trial was conducted and analyses were performed on T2DM participants with periodontitis (n = 74) who completed follow-up visits at 3 and 6 months after the intervention. The observed between-group and within-group mean changes in IR were found using ANOVA with repeated measures, followed by a post-hoc analysis, and a p-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. Between-group analyses showed no difference in the HOMA-IR at 3 months, but at 6 months the difference was significant (p = 0.046). Within-group analyses showed that the HOMA-IR was significantly reduced in both test groups (p ≤ 0.05) over the period of time. Adjunct use of MET may result in a sudden short-term lowering of the HOMA-IR level within 3 months that may not be retained over 6 months when compared to the sustained lowering of the HOMA-IR levels in T2DM when intervened with SRP without MET.

Clinical efficacy of scaling and root planing with and without metronidazole on glycemic control: three-arm randomized controlled trial

Background

Treating periodontitis through non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) may improve glycemic control in type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. However, the evidence to maintain this improvement beyond four months is insufficient. Hence, this trial was conducted to assess clinical efficacy of NSPT on glycemic control in T2DM patients.

Methods

This three-arm randomized controlled trial recruited 150 known T2DM participants (35–65 years), suffering from moderate to severe periodontitis, having HbA1c level ≥ 6.5% at baseline. Participants were followed up at 3 and 6 months. Intervention for test group-1 included scaling and root planing (SRP) with metronidazole (MET) and oral hygiene instructions (OHI). Test group-2 was intervened with SRP + OHI and control group with OHI only. Stata v. 14 was used to observe inter and intragroup mean changes in glycemic [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG)] and periodontal variables [bleeding on probing (BOP), periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL)] using ANOVA and RMANOVA. Proportion of change in outcome variable (HbA1c) was assessed between treatment groups using chi-square test. Change was considered significant at p-value ≤ 0.05.

Results

A significant reduction was observed in BOP, PPD, CAL, HbA1c and FBG over time [p < 0.05]. Significant reductions were observed in same variables in both test groups in comparison to control arm [p < 0.05]. No change between the two test groups was observed [p > 0.05].

Conclusion

Scaling and root planing improves glycemic control of T2DM patients independently of the use of MET. Therefore, SRP after every 6 months may be suggested and included as a part of overall diabetes management for patients suffering from T2DM.

Clinical trial registration NCT 03,343,366 [Date of Registration: 17/11/2017]

Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of antimicrobials adjunctive to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. The study was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. The protocol (CRD42020178621) was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched up to March 2020; furthermore, a manual search of relevant periodontal journals was conducted. Mean differences (MD) and standard deviations were calculated for clinical attachment level (CAL) gain and probing depth (PD) reduction at 6 and 12 months. A network meta-analysis was performed to assess direct and indirect comparisons and to establish a ranking of treatments. A total of 21 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included in the systematic review. Network meta-analysis showed that SRP + amoxicillin (AMX) + metronidazole (MTZ), as compared to SRP, reached the highest PD reduction at 6 [MD = 0.47; 95% CI (0.3; 0.64)] and 12 months [MD = 0.51; 95% CI (0.25; 0.78)], and CAL gain at 6 [MD = 0.54; 95% CI (0.27; 0.8)] and 12 months [MD = 0.37; 95% CI (0.05; 0.69)]. Network meta-analysis indicated that AMX + MTZ adjunctive to SRP provided the best improvement in clinical parameters, followed by SRP + MTZ.

Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non-surgical treatment of periodontitis

BACKGROUND

Systemic antimicrobials can be used as an adjunct to mechanical debridement (scaling and root planing (SRP)) as a non-surgical treatment approach to manage periodontitis. A range of antibiotics with different dosage and combinations are documented in the literature. The review follows the previous classification of periodontitis as all included studies used this classification.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of systemic antimicrobials as an adjunct to SRP for the non-surgical treatment of patients with periodontitis.

SEARCH METHODS

Cochrane Oral Health's Information Specialist searched the following databases to 9 March 2020: Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase. The US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched for ongoing trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which involved individuals with clinically diagnosed untreated periodontitis. Trials compared SRP with systemic antibiotics versus SRP alone/placebo, or with other systemic antibiotics.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We selected trials, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias in duplicate. We estimated mean differences (MDs) for continuous data, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed the certainty of the evidence using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 45 trials conducted worldwide involving 2664 adult participants. 14 studies were at low, 8 at high, and the remaining 23 at unclear overall risk of bias. Seven trials did not contribute data to the analysis. We assessed the certainty of the evidence for the 10 comparisons which reported long-term follow-up (≥ 1 year). None of the studies reported data on antimicrobial resistance and patient-reported quality of life changes. Amoxicillin + metronidazole + SRP versus SRP in chronic/aggressive periodontitis: the evidence for percentage of closed pockets (MD -16.20%, 95% CI -25.87 to -6.53; 1 study, 44 participants); clinical attachment level (CAL) (MD -0.47 mm, 95% CI -0.90 to -0.05; 2 studies, 389 participants); probing pocket depth (PD) (MD -0.30 mm, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.18; 2 studies, 389 participants); and percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP) (MD -8.06%, 95% CI -14.26 to -1.85; 2 studies, 389 participants) was of very low certainty. Only the results for closed pockets and BOP showed a minimally important clinical difference (MICD) favouring amoxicillin + metronidazole + SRP. Metronidazole + SRP versus SRP in chronic/aggressive periodontitis: the evidence for percentage of closed pockets (MD -12.20%, 95% CI -29.23 to 4.83; 1 study, 22 participants); CAL (MD -1.12 mm, 95% CI -2.24 to 0; 3 studies, 71 participants); PD (MD -1.11 mm, 95% CI -2.84 to 0.61; 2 studies, 47 participants); and percentage of BOP (MD -6.90%, 95% CI -22.10 to 8.30; 1 study, 22 participants) was of very low certainty. Only the results for CAL and PD showed an MICD favouring the MTZ + SRP group. Azithromycin + SRP versus SRP for chronic/aggressive periodontitis: we found no evidence of a difference in percentage of closed pockets (MD 2.50%, 95% CI -10.19 to 15.19; 1 study, 40 participants); CAL (MD -0.59 mm, 95% CI -1.27 to 0.08; 2 studies, 110 participants); PD (MD -0.77 mm, 95% CI -2.33 to 0.79; 2 studies, 110 participants); and percentage of BOP (MD -1.28%, 95% CI -4.32 to 1.76; 2 studies, 110 participants) (very low-certainty evidence for all outcomes). Amoxicillin + clavulanate + SRP versus SRP for chronic periodontitis: the evidence from 1 study, 21 participants for CAL (MD 0.10 mm, 95% CI -0.51 to 0.71); PD (MD 0.10 mm, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.37); and BOP (MD 0%, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.09) was of very low certainty and did not show a difference between the groups. Doxycycline + SRP versus SRP in aggressive periodontitis: the evidence from 1 study, 22 participants for CAL (MD -0.80 mm, 95% CI -1.49 to -0.11); and PD (MD -1.00 mm, 95% CI -1.78 to -0.22) was of very low certainty, with the doxycycline + SRP group showing an MICD in PD only. Tetracycline + SRP versus SRP for aggressive periodontitis: we found very low-certainty evidence of a difference in long-term improvement in CAL for the tetracycline group (MD -2.30 mm, 95% CI -2.50 to -2.10; 1 study, 26 participants). Clindamycin + SRP versus SRP in aggressive periodontitis: we found very low-certainty evidence from 1 study, 21 participants of a difference in long-term improvement in CAL (MD -1.70 mm, 95% CI -2.40 to -1.00); and PD (MD -1.80 mm, 95% CI -2.47 to -1.13) favouring clindamycin + SRP. Doxycycline + SRP versus metronidazole + SRP for aggressive periodontitis: there was very low-certainty evidence from 1 study, 27 participants of a difference in long-term CAL (MD 1.10 mm, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.84); and PD (MD 1.00 mm, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.70) favouring metronidazole + SRP. Clindamycin + SRP versus metronidazole + SRP for aggressive periodontitis: the evidence from 1 study, 26 participants for CAL (MD 0.20 mm, 95% CI -0.55 to 0.95); and PD (MD 0.20 mm, 95% CI -0.38 to 0.78) was of very low certainty and did not show a difference between the groups. Clindamycin + SRP versus doxycycline + SRP for aggressive periodontitis: the evidence from 1 study, 23 participants for CAL (MD -0.90 mm, 95% CI -1.62 to -0.18); and PD (MD -0.80 mm, 95% CI -1.58 to -0.02) was of very low certainty and did not show a difference between the groups. Most trials testing amoxicillin, metronidazole, and azithromycin reported adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, mild gastrointestinal disturbances, and metallic taste. No serious adverse events were reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is very low-certainty evidence (for long-term follow-up) to inform clinicians and patients if adjunctive systemic antimicrobials are of any help for the non-surgical treatment of periodontitis. There is insufficient evidence to decide whether some antibiotics are better than others when used alongside SRP. None of the trials reported serious adverse events but patients should be made aware of the common adverse events related to these drugs. Well-planned RCTs need to be conducted clearly defining the minimally important clinical difference for the outcomes closed pockets, CAL, PD, and BOP.

Comparative In Vitro Resistance of Human Periodontal Bacterial Pathogens to Tinidazole and Four Other Antibiotics

The in vitro resistance of selected red/orange complex periodontal pathogens to tinidazole was compared with four other antibiotics. Subgingival biofilm samples from 88 adults with severe periodontitis were anaerobically incubated on enriched Brucella blood agar with and without supplementation with tinidazole (16 mg/L), metronidazole (16 mg/L), amoxicillin (8 mg/L), doxycycline (4 mg/L), or clindamycin (4 mg/L). Growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia/nigrescens, Parvimonas micra, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus constellatus, or Campylobacter rectus on antibiotic-supplemented plates indicated their in vitro antibiotic resistance. Tinidazole inhibited all test species, except P. intermedia/nigrescens, P. micra, and S. constellatus in 3.8%, 10.2%, and 88.9% of species-positive patients, respectively. Significantly fewer patients yielded tinidazole-resistant test species, and had significantly lower subgingival proportions of tinidazole-resistant organisms, than patients with amoxicillin, doxycycline, or clindamycin-resistant species, but not those with metronidazole-resistant strains. Joint in vitro species resistance to tinidazole and amoxicillin, or metronidazole and amoxicillin, was rare. Tinidazole performed in vitro similar to metronidazole, and markedly better than amoxicillin, doxycycline, or clindamycin, against fresh clinical isolates of red/orange complex periodontal pathogens. As a result of its similar antimicrobial spectrum, and more convenient once-a-day oral dosing, tinidazole should be considered in place of metronidazole for systemic periodontitis drug therapy.

Success of non-surgical periodontal therapy in adult periodontitis patients: A retrospective analysis

Objective

To evaluate the results of active non‐surgical treatment in patients diagnosed with adult periodontitis treated in a specialized clinic for periodontology.

Material & Methods

In total, 1182 patients with adult periodontitis received active non‐surgical therapy, which involved professional oral hygiene instruction, scaling and root planing, supragingival polishing and elective systemic antimicrobial medication. The results of this therapy were based on a full‐mouth periodontal chart as assessed at the time of evaluation. Successful treatment as periodontal pocket depth (PPD) ≤5 mm was the main outcome parameter with bleeding on pocket probing as secondary outcome. Patient‐related factors such as smoking and severity of periodontitis at baseline and site‐related factors such as tooth type, furcation involvement and endodontic treatment were analysed. Possible relations with assessed parameters and the success of active periodontal therapy were evaluated.

Results

Overall 39% of the patients reached the successful treatment objective and a mean bleeding on pocket probing tendency of 14%. Treatment success appeared to be dependent on tooth type where the results at single‐rooted front teeth (85%) and premolar teeth (78%) were more successful than at molar teeth (47%). Analysis revealed that in 55% of the cases furcation involvement at molars was associated with the absence of success. Endodontic treatment was associated with absence of success in 8%‐11% of the cases. Smoking negatively influences successful treatment outcome (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Active non‐surgical periodontal therapy in patients with adult periodontitis resulted in approximately one third of the cases in the success endpoint of PPD ≤ 5mm. Sub‐analysis showed that the outcome appeared to be dependent on tooth type, furcation involvement, severity of periodontal disease at intake and smoking status.

Radiographic alveolar bone level and levels of serum 25-OH-Vitamin D3 in ethnic Norwegian and Tamil periodontitis patients and their periodontally healthy controls

BACKGROUND

Studies suggest association between low serum 25-OH-Vitamin D₃ (VitD) and chronic destructive periodontal diseases. The main sources of VitD is sun exposure and fat fish. Subjects with dark skin will therefore generate less VitD as response to sun exposure. The aim of the study was to assess the radiographic bone level and levels of serum VitD in ethnic Norwegian and Tamil periodontitis patients and their respective healthy controls.

METHODS

Twenty-seven Tamil periodontitis patients living in Norway were compared to 21 Tamil controls as well as to 21 Norwegian periodontitis patients and 23 Norwegian controls. Marginal bone level was diagnosed on radiographs. VitD levels were diagnosed in blood samples by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

VitD levels were lower in Norwegian periodontitis patients than in controls, while no significant differences were observed between Tamil periodontitis patients and controls despite the significant difference between RBL between the periodontitis patients and controls in both groups. When calculating the odds ratio for having periodontal disease in both populations together, it appeared that one unit increased serum VitD (i.e. 1 nmol/L) decreased the odds of having radiographic bone loss by 4%.

CONCLUSION

According to logistic regression, and after correcting for confounding factors, VitD levels showed significant association with the presence of periodontitis, as expressed by radiographic bone loss, in all patients combined.

Oral hygiene phase revisited: How different study designs have affected results in intervention studies

Every periodontal researcher have been taught, and every textbook in periodontics have advocated, that a phase in which the patient is meticulously motivated and instructed in proper oral hygiene-the oral hygiene phase-must be included in any periodontal intervention. However, how is this oral hygiene phase actually portrayed in periodontal intervention studies, and how much space have this important phase received in the planning and carry-through of intervention studies? The purpose of this letter to the editor was to review current literature in the period 1975/01/01-2017/12/31 on periodontal, mechanical intervention studies in order to see what focus the oral hygiene phase had received in these articles. The result showed that the oral hygiene phase is variable in length and content, variable in claimed result, insufficiently described, and invariably amalgamated with the scaling and root planing which is the intervention or part of an intervention. The consequences of these findings are discussed and suggestions proposed for more harmonized and calibrated oral hygiene phase introduced to avoid biased and inflated results of interventions.

Clinical attachment loss and molecular profile of inflamed sites before treatment

Objective:

To monitor early periodontal disease progression and to investigate clinical and molecular profile of inflamed sites by means of crevicular fluid and gingival biopsy analysis.

Methodology:

Eighty-one samples of twenty-seven periodontitis subjects and periodontally healthy individuals were collected for the study. Measurements of clinical parameters were recorded at day −15, baseline and 2 months after basic periodontal treatment aiming at monitoring early variations ofthe clinical attachment level. Saliva, crevicular fluid and gingival biopsies were harvested from clinically inflamed and non-inflamed sites from periodontal patients and from control sites of healthy patients for the assessment of IL-10, MMP-8, VEGF, RANKL, OPG and TGF-β1 protein and gene expression levels.

Results:

Baseline IL-10 protein levels from inflamed sites were higher in comparison to both non-inflamed and control sites (p<0.05). Higher expression of mRNA for IL-10, RANK-L, OPG, e TGF-β1 were also observed in inflamed sites at day −15 prior treatment (p<0.05). After the periodontal treatment and the resolution of inflammation, seventeen percent of evaluated sites still showed clinically detectable attachment loss without significant differences in the molecular profile.

Conclusions:

Clinical attachment loss is a negative event that may occur even after successful basic periodontal therapy, but it is small and limited to a small percentage of sites. Elevated inflammation markers of inflamed sites from disease patients reduced to the mean levels of those observed in healthy subjects after successful basic periodontal therapy. Significantly elevated both gene and protein levels of IL-10 in inflamed sites prior treatment confirms its modulatory role in the disease status.

Twenty Years of Full-Mouth Disinfection: The Past, the Present and the Future

Background:

Conventional periodontal treatment, performed quadrant by quadrant in multiple visits, was re-evaluated in the early 1990s when the full-mouth disinfection concept was introduced. Over the years, several modifications to the full-mouth disinfection approach have been suggested.

Objective:

The purpose of this article is to review the evolution of full-mouth disinfection during the past 20 years, to specify its indications and to consider the prospects for this approach.

Materials and Methods:

An electronic and manual search of the literature, ending in December 2016, was performed by two independent researchers. Only pivotal studies and randomized controlled clinical trials published in the English language that evaluated a new approach to full-mouth disinfection were selected.

Results:

According to the studies included in our analysis (21 articles), several modified full-mouth disinfection protocols have been designed including: full-mouth treatment without chlorhexidine, the extension of hygiene methods and an increase in the duration of post-treatment chlorhexidine use, the replacement of chlorhexidine with other antiseptics, supplementation with antibiotics or probiotics, full-mouth antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and one-stage full-mouth disinfection combined with a periodontal dressing.

Conclusion:

Since 1995, several modifications have been suggested to improve the effectiveness of full-mouth disinfection. The majority of the studies demonstrate that the results obtained with full-mouth disinfection and its variants are equivalent to each other and to those obtained with the conventional quadrant method. Currently, the selection of this technique remains empirical and depends on the preferences of the practitioner and the patient. In the future, a patient-centered approach should be the best indication for the use of this technique.

Comparison Of Full-Mouth Scaling and Quadrant-Wise Scaling in the Treatment of Adult Chronic Periodontitis

Abstract In the search for the ideal treatment of periodontal disease various non-surgical techniques should be considered. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of full-mouth scaling (FMS) by clinical and microbiological parameters. 670 individuals were evaluated with 230 subjects meeting the selection criteria and were divided into two groups; 115 subjects treated with FMS and 115 treated with weekly sessions of scaling and root planning (SRP). The patient population had a mean age of 51.67 years, with moderate chronic periodontitis. Subjects were evaluated prior to treatment (T1) and 90 days after execution of therapy (T2), with regards to: probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and microbial detection for the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.) and Prevotella intermedia (P.i.) by culture method and confirmed by biochemical tests. Subjects treated in the FMS group also rinsed with 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash for seven days following treatment. The results were analyzed using statistical Student’s t-test and chi-square test. No statistically significant differences were observed for PD and CAL between T1 and T2 in both groups. For GI and PI significant difference was observed between the groups. For the evaluated microbial parameters was observed reduction of P.g. and P.i., but only for P.g. with a significant reduction in both groups. The full mouth scaling technique with the methodology used in this study provided improved clinical conditions and reduction of P.g. in subjects with moderate periodontitis, optimizing the time spent in the therapeutic execution.

Evaluating the Risk of Bias of a Study

OBJECTIVE

This first article of a series of 4 is aimed at guiding dental practitioners on how to evaluate the internal validity (risk of bias,) of randomized controlled trials (RCT). All RCT's contain different areas and potential sources of bias. Understanding risk of bias (ROB) will allow dental practitioners to improve the quality of dental treatments.

METHODS

The following areas of bias were elucidated: sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding of participants and personnel, blinding of outcome assessment, incomplete outcome data, selective reporting, and "other bias". The reader determines the ROB level by evaluating the areas or potential source of bias in the first phase. Normally, ROB levels are classified as low, high and unclear ROB.

RESULTS

This article reported the concepts and methods of evaluation of ROB in several areas of an RCT. An RCT with low ROB in all evaluated areas gives the dental practitioners more certainty and confidence that a specific clinical procedure is in fact effective and relevant to the patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The information provided here may guide dental practitioners in the evaluation of ROB in an RCT. The correct evaluation of ROB may improve the quality of dental treatments.

Antibiotics/antimicrobials: systemic and local administration in the therapy of mild to moderately advanced periodontitis

This review gives an update of the current scientific evidence on the efficacy of the adjunctive use of systemic and local antibiotics/antimicrobials in the treatment of periodontitis. In particular, it addresses whether their use can improve the results of nonsurgical mechanical therapy in mild-to-moderate forms of the disease. Large numbers of randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews with meta-analyses have clearly established that adjunctive systemic antibiotics, combined with mechanical debridement, offer clinical improvements additional to those obtained with scaling and root planing alone. These effects are more pronounced in aggressive periodontitis and in initially deep pockets, whereas more limited additional improvements, of 0.3 mm for additional pocket reduction and 0.2 mm for additional clinical attachment gain, have been documented for moderately deep sites (4-6 mm) in patients with chronic periodontitis. The marginal clinical benefit in patients with moderate disease has to be balanced against possible side effects. Notably, it has to be realized that an increasing number of warnings have been articulated against the unrestricted use of antibiotics in treating periodontal diseases because of the emerging global public health issue of bacterial resistance. The effects of the adjunctive local administration of antimicrobials have also been very well documented in several systematic reviews. Overall, in persistent or recurrent localized deep sites, the application of antimicrobials by sustained-delivery devices may offer a benefit of an additional 0.4 mm in pocket depth reduction and 0.3 mm in clinical attachment level gain. In conclusion, the slight additional benefits of adjunctive antimicrobials, which were shown for moderate forms of periodontitis, have to be balanced against their side effects and therefore their prescription should be limited as much as possible.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis by means of scaling and root planing with or without adjuncts

BACKGROUND

Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on nonsurgical treatment of patients with chronic periodontitis by means of scaling and root planing (SRP) with or without adjuncts.

METHODS

A panel of experts convened by the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs conducted a search of PubMed (MEDLINE) and Embase for randomized controlled trials of SRP with or without the use of adjuncts with clinical attachment level (CAL) outcomes in trials at least 6 months in duration and published in English through July 2014. The authors assessed individual study bias by using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and conducted meta-analyses to obtain the summary effect estimates and their precision and to assess heterogeneity. The authors used funnel plots and Egger tests to assess publication bias when there were more than 10 studies. The authors used a modified version of the US Preventive Services Task Force methods to assess the overall level of certainty in the evidence.

RESULTS

The panel included 72 articles on the effectiveness of SRP with or without the following: systemic antimicrobials, a systemic host modulator (subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline), locally delivered antimicrobials (chlorhexidine chips, doxycycline hyclate gel, and minocycline microspheres), and a variety of nonsurgical lasers (photodynamic therapy with a diode laser, a diode laser, neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers, and erbium lasers).

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

With a moderate level of certainty, the panel found approximately a 0.5-millimeter average improvement in CAL with SRP. Combinations of SRP with assorted adjuncts resulted in a range of average CAL improvements between 0.2 and 0.6 mm over SRP alone. The panel judged the following 4 adjunctive therapies as beneficial with a moderate level of certainty: systemic subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline, systemic antimicrobials, chlorhexidine chips, and photodynamic therapy with a diode laser. There was a low level of certainty in the benefits of the other included adjunctive therapies. The panel provides clinical recommendations in the associated clinical practice guideline.

A Randomized Double-Masked Clinical Trial Comparing Four Periodontitis Treatment Strategies: 5-Year Tooth Loss Results

BACKGROUND

Tooth loss is the ultimate negative consequence of periodontitis, and reports of the extent to which different treatment strategies may influence long-term tooth loss are hard to find. This study aims to test the hypothesis that there is no difference in 5-year clinical outcome of therapy in terms of tooth mortality between groups of patients treated with conventional scaling and root planing (SRP) over weeks or same-day full-mouth disinfection (FDIS), with or without adjunctive metronidazole (MET).

METHODS

One hundred eighty-four patients with moderate-to-severe periodontitis were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: 1) FDIS+MET; 2) FDIS+placebo; 3) SRP+MET; and 4) SRP+placebo. Total 161 patients (88%) completed the 5-year follow-up examination, and data on number and timing of tooth extractions as well as pre-extraction diagnoses and reasons for extractions were analyzed.

RESULTS

No differences were observed between groups with regard to number of, reasons for, or time of extractions in the four groups at baseline and 1, 3, and 5 years after treatment.

CONCLUSION

If extraction or retention of teeth is regarded as a measure of failure or success 5 years after completion of periodontal therapy, none of the four strategies produced an end result better than the other.

Defining and predicting outcomes of non-surgical periodontal treatment: a 1-yr follow-up study

This study reports on 1-yr outcomes of non-surgical periodontal therapy and compares predictive models resulting from different definitions of treatment success. A total of 149 participants, 30-70 yr of age, provided clinical periodontal data and data on sociodemographic status, health status, symptoms, and oral health-care behaviors at baseline. One week later, clinical attachment level and probing pocket depth were recorded again in 148 patients. Participants underwent non-surgical periodontal therapy, including scaling and root planing, during three to four clinical sessions. Three and 12 months later, clinical attachment level, probing pocket depth, and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded in 141 and 137 participants, respectively. Using test-retest data, patients were classified as having 'downhill', 'stable', or 'improved' results on three clinical attachment level and three probing pocket depth outcomes, and their classification was found to vary considerably according to outcome. Although the predictors of treatment outcome varied depending on the variable chosen to represent the treatment outcome, some predictors were more commonly noted as predicting improvement, namely a high baseline percentage of sites with subgingival calculus and the presence of suppuration at baseline. The latter was, however, also predictive for tooth loss during the study. Our findings underline the need for uniformity in defining the outcomes in trials of periodontal therapy.

A new digital tool for radiographic bone level measurements in longitudinal studies

Background

The reproducibility of measurements on radiographs is influenced by the techniques by which the images as well as the measurements are obtained. Thus, bias resulting from errors in the image and/or image examinations at two points in time may result in wrongful registrations of true biological or pathological changes. The aim of the present study was to propose and evaluate an indirect radiological examination technique, by which bias, when measuring radiographic bone level, could be substantially reduced as compared to the technique using direct mm measurements.

Methods

A plugin to ImageJ was designed to reduce bias when measuring bone loss on radiographic images. In human dry mandibles, radiographic images of 20 teeth were obtained parallel with the tooth axis (alpha = 0) and at an angle of 30° deviation. The direct technique of measuring radiographic bone level (RBL) and the indirect, length-adjusted RBL were registered by four researchers in a double blinded fashion.

Results

When mean RBL measured at 0° angle was 7.0 mm, the corresponding mean RBL measured at 30° angle was 7.8 mm, signifying an 11.4 % increase (p = 0.032), whereas the mean length-adjusted RBL increased by 0.6 % (p = 0.9).

Conclusions

This study showed that the use of the original, direct technique (ImageJ) resulted in markedly biased radiographic bone level at 30° angle, while the proposed indirect length-adjusted technique (ImageJ plugin) did not.

Patients' perception of own efforts versus clinically observed outcomes of non-surgical periodontal therapy in a Norwegian population: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Most periodontal intervention studies have focused on biomedical qualities like change in pocket depth and clinical attachment levels. Very few studies have described patient response in terms of how patients' general lives are affected by disease, treatment, and communication with therapy providers. Thus the aim of the present study was to investigate patient response to systematic periodontal information, motivation and treatment strategy (primary aim) by comparing the patients' perception of own efforts and results with those clinically registered in a trans-sectional, observational study (secondary aim).

METHODS

One year after treatment of 184 patients, 152 completed a questionnaire covering aspects of received oral health information and instruction, expectations, communication with the therapeutic team, behavioral change, self-perceived outcomes and satisfaction.

RESULTS

More than 90% of the patients were satisfied with the interaction with the specialist team. 98% were satisfied with the information and instruction they had been given. 84% said that the information had been necessary to make them change their behavior towards better oral hygiene. Pain and discomfort, as well as bleeding were reduced substantially from before to after treatment, and 28 patients reported to have stopped smoking. In all questions regarding well-being there were statistically significant changes towards positive impact following therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontal treatment, including customized information and education on the etiology and pathogenesis, prevention and treatment as well as maintenance of periodontal diseases resulted in a high degree of short- and long term compliance, and very good patient centered outcomes, which again had a positive impact on the patients' satisfaction. The patient centered outcomes correlated mostly with the compared clinical endpoints.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01318928.

The effect of metronidazole on the presence of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia at 3 and 12 months after different periodontal treatment strategies evaluated in a randomized, clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

The benefit of full-mouth disinfection (FDIS) over traditional scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic, destructive periodontitis remains equivocal and it is not known whether the use of adjunctive antibiotics may enhance the effect of FDIS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of conventional SRP completed over 21 days or 1-day FDIS, with or without systemically delivered adjunctive metronidazole (MET) on the presence of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia after 3 and 12 months.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and eighty-four patients with moderate-to-severe periodontitis were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups; (1) FDIS+MET; (2) FDIS+placebo; (3) SRP+MET; (4) SRP+placebo. Prior to treatment, pooled subgingival samples were obtained from the five deepest pockets. The same sites were sampled again 3 and 12 months after treatment. All samples were analyzed for P. gingivalis and T. forsythia by PCR, whereas A. actinomycetemcomitans and other bacteria were identified by culture techniques.

RESULTS

At baseline, 47% of the samples were positive for P. gingivalis, while almost all samples were positive for T. forsythia. The occurrence of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia was significantly reduced at 3 and 12 months after treatment in the FDIS+MET group, but not in the other treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

FDIS+MET had a significant effect in patients with P. gingivalis and T. forsythia, resulting in a significant reduction in number of patients where these micro-organisms could be detected at 3 and 12 months post-therapy.

Full-mouth treatment modalities (within 24 hours) for chronic periodontitis in adults

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis is chronic inflammation that causes damage to the soft tissues and bones supporting the teeth. Mild to moderate periodontitis affects up to 50% of adults. Conventional treatment is quadrant scaling and root planing. In an attempt to enhance treatment outcomes, alternative protocols for anti-infective periodontal therapy have been introduced: full-mouth scaling (FMS) and full-mouth disinfection (FMD), which is scaling plus use of an antiseptic. This review updates our previous review of full-mouth treatment modalities, which was published in 2008.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical effects of 1) full-mouth scaling (over 24 hours) or 2) full-mouth disinfection (over 24 hours) for the treatment of chronic periodontitis compared to conventional quadrant scaling and root planing (over a series of visits at least one week apart). A secondary objective was to evaluate whether there was a difference in clinical effect between full-mouth disinfection and full-mouth scaling.

SEARCH METHODS

The following electronic databases were searched: the Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register (to 26 March 2015), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; The Cochrane Library 2015, Issue 2), MEDLINE via OVID (1946 to 26 March 2015), EMBASE via OVID (1980 to 26 March 2015) and CINAHL via EBSCO (1937 to 26 March 2015). We searched the US National Institutes of Health Trials Register (ClinicalTrials.gov) and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for ongoing studies. There were no restrictions regarding language or date of publication in the searches of the electronic databases. We scanned reference lists from relevant articles and contacted the authors of eligible studies to identify trials and obtain additional information.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with at least three months of follow-up that evaluated full-mouth scaling and root planing within 24 hours with adjunctive use of an antiseptic such as chlorhexidine (FMD) or without the use of antiseptic (FMS), compared to conventional quadrant scaling and root planing (control). Participants had a clinical diagnosis of chronic periodontitis according to the International Classification of Periodontal Diseases. We excluded studies of people with aggressive periodontitis, systemic disorders or who were taking antibiotics.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Several review authors independently conducted data extraction and risk of bias assessment (which focused on method of randomisation, allocation concealment, blinding of examiners and completeness of follow-up). Our primary outcome was tooth loss and secondary outcomes were change in probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing attachment (i.e. clinical attachment level; CAL), and adverse events. We followed the methodological guidelines of The Cochrane Collaboration.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 12 trials, which recruited 389 participants. No studies assessed the primary outcome tooth loss.Ten trials compared FMS and control; three of these were assessed as being at high risk of bias, three as unclear risk and four as low risk. There was no evidence for a benefit for FMS over the control for change in probing pocket depth (PPD), gain in probing attachment (i.e. clinical attachment level; CAL) or bleeding on probing (BOP). The difference in changes between FMS and control for whole mouth PPD at three to four months was 0.01 mm higher (95% CI -0.17 to 0.19, three trials, 82 participants). There was no evidence of heterogeneity. The difference in changes for CAL was 0.02 mm lower (95% CI -0.26 to 0.22, three trials, 82 participants), and the difference in change in BOP was 2.86 per cent of sites lower (95% CI -7.65 to 1.93, four trials, 120 participants).We included six trials in the meta-analyses comparing FMD and control, with two trials assessed as being at high risk of bias, one as low and three as unclear. The analyses did not indicate a benefit for FMD over the control for PPD, CAL or BOP. The difference in changes for whole-mouth PPD between FMD and control at three to four months was 0.13 mm higher (95% CI -0.09 to 0.34, two trials, 44 participants). There was no evidence of heterogeneity. The difference in changes for CAL was 0.04mm higher (95% CI -0.25 to 0.33, two trials, 44 participants) and the difference in change in BOP being 12.59 higher for FMD (95% CI -8.58 to 33.77, three trials, 68 participants).Three trials were included in the analyses comparing FMS and FMD. The mean difference in PPD change at three to four months was 0.11 mm lower (-0.34 to 0.12, two trials, 45 participants) indicating no evidence of a difference between the two interventions. There was a difference in the gain in CAL at three to four months (-0.25 mm, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.07, two trials, 45 participants), favouring FMD but this was not found at six to eight months. There was no evidence for a difference between FMS and FMD for BOP (-1.59, 95% CI -9.97 to 6.80, two trials, 45 participants).Analyses were conducted for different teeth types (single- or multi-rooted) and for teeth with different levels of probing depth at baseline, for PPD, CAL and BOP. There was insufficient evidence of a benefit for either FMS or FMD.Harms and adverse events were reported in eight studies. The most important harm identified was an increased body temperature after FMS or FMD treatments.We assessed the quality of the evidence for each comparison and outcome as 'low' because of design limitations leading to risk of bias and because of the small number of trials and participants, which led to imprecision in the effect estimates.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The inclusion of five additional RCTs in this updated review comparing the clinical effects of conventional mechanical treatment with FMS and FMD approaches for the treatment of chronic periodontitis has not changed the conclusions of the original review. From the twelve included trials there is no clear evidence that FMS or FMD provide additional benefit compared to conventional scaling and root planing. In practice, the decision to select one approach to non-surgical periodontal therapy over another should include patient preference and the convenience of the treatment schedule.

Microbiologic Observations After Four Treatment Strategies Among Patients With Periodontitis Maintaining a High Standard of Oral Hygiene: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

The benefit of full-mouth disinfection (FDIS) over traditional scaling and root planing (SRP), with or without adjunctive metronidazole, when treating chronic destructive periodontitis remains equivocal, as does the long-term association between clinical and microbiologic outcomes after such strategies. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between clinical and microbiologic outcomes of four different treatment strategies for chronic destructive periodontitis among patients who maintain excellent oral hygiene and low gingival bleeding scores.

METHODS

One hundred eighty-four patients with periodontitis and capable of maintaining a high standard of oral hygiene were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: 1) FDIS + metronidazole; 2) FDIS + placebo; 3) SRP + metronidazole; and 4) SRP + placebo. Recordings of plaque, bleeding on probing, probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level were carried out in four sites per tooth at baseline, 3 and 12 months after treatment. Before treatment, pooled subgingival samples were obtained from the five deepest pockets, which were sampled again 3 and 12 months after treatment. Microbiologic assessments of eight putative periodontal pathogens were performed using the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization method.

RESULTS

Levels of bacterial species were already relatively low at baseline. The only microbial factor statistically significantly associated with the clinical outcomes of treatment after 12 months was the association between reductions of Tannerella forsythia and being free from PD ≥5 mm.

CONCLUSION

In this clinical trial, the only microbial factor associated with the clinical outcomes after 12 months was a statistically significant association between the reductions of T. forsythia and being free from PD ≥5 mm.

Methodological issues in the quantification of subgingival microorganisms using the checkerboard technique

The reproducibility and reliability of quantitative microbiological assessments using the DNA-DNA hybridization "checkerboard method" (CKB) were assessed. The data originated from 180 chronic periodontitis patients, who were enrolled in a clinical trial and sampled at baseline, and 3 and 12m post-therapy. The samples were divided into two portions allowing evaluation of reproducibility. In total, 531 samples were analyzed in a first run, using standard bacterial preparations of cells and 513 samples were accessible for analysis in the second, using standards based on purified DNA from the species. The microbial probe panel consisted of periodontitis marker bacteria as well as non-oral microorganisms. Three different ways of quantifying and presenting data; the visual scoring method, VSM, the standard curve method, SCM, and the percent method, PM, were compared. The second set of analyses based on the use of standard preparations of pure DNA was shown to be more consistent than the first set using standards based on cells, while the effect of storage time per se up to 2.5y seemed to be marginal. The best reproducibility was found for Tannerella forsythia, irrespective of quantification technique (Spearman's rho=0.587, Pearson's r≥0.540). The percent method (PM) based on percent of High Standard (10(6) cells) was more reliable than SCM based on a linear calibration of the High Standard and a Low Standard (10(5) cells). It was concluded that the reproducibility of the CBK method varied between different bacteria. High quality and pure specific DNA whole genomic probes and standards may have a stronger impact on the precision of the data than storage time and conditions.

An estimate of pocket closure and avoided needs of surgery after scaling and root planing with systemic antibiotics: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Relevant benefits of adjunctive medication of antibiotica after conventional root surface debridement in terms of enhanced pocket depth (PD) reduction have been shown. However, means and standard deviations of enhanced reductions are difficult to translate into clinical relevant treatment outcomes such as pocket resolution or avoidance of additional surgical interventions. Accordingly, the aim of this systematic review was to calculate odds ratios for relevant cut-off values of PD after mechanical periodontal treatment with and without antibiotics, specifically the combination of amoxicilline and metronidazol, from published studies. As clinical relevant cut-off values "pocket closure" for PD ≤ 3mm and "avoidance of surgical intervention" for PD ≤ 5 mm were determined.

METHODS

The databases PubMed, Embase and Central were searched for randomized clinical studies assessing the beneficial effect of the combination of amoxicillin and metronidazole after non-surgical mechanical debridement. Titles, abstracts and finally full texts were scrutinized for possible inclusion by two independent investigators. Quality and heterogeneity of the studies were assessed and the study designs were examined. From published means and standard deviations for PD after therapy, odds ratios for the clinically relevant cut-off values were calculated using a specific statistical approach.

RESULTS

Meta-analyses were performed for the time points 3 and 6 month after mechanical therapy. Generally, a pronounced chance for pocket closure from 3 to 6 months of healing was shown. The administration of antibiotics resulted in a 3.55 and 4.43 fold higher probability of pocket closure after 3 and 6 months as compared to mechanical therapy alone. However, as the estimated risk for residual pockets > 5 mm was 0 for both groups, no odds ratio could be calculated for persistent needs for surgery. Generally, studies showed a moderate to high quality and large heterogeneity regarding treatment protocol, dose of antibiotic medication and maintenance.

CONCLUSION

With the performed statistical approach, a clear benefit in terms of an enhanced chance for pocket closure by co-administration of the combination of amoxicillin and metronidazole as an adjunct to non-surgical mechanical periodontal therapy has been shown. However, data calculation failed to show a benefit regarding the possible avoidance of surgical interventions.

Non-surgical periodontal therapy with systemic antibiotics in patients with untreated chronic periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of different systemic antibiotics in combination with scaling and root planing (SRP) when compared to SRP alone in patients with untreated chronic periodontitis.

BACKGROUND

Although chronic periodontitis is mostly treated without adjunctive systemic antibiotics, some recent meta-analyses have shown clinical benefit for some systemic antibiotics when used as an adjunct to SRP. However, there is a wide variety of systemic antibiotic regimens used today. It remains unclear if the selected type of systemic antibiotic influences the magnitude of clinical benefit.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The MEDLINE-PubMed database was searched from their earliest records through May 16, 2013. Several journals were hand searched and some authors were contacted for additional information. Outcome measures analysed were mean bleeding on probing change, mean clinical attachment level gain and mean probing pocket depth reduction. Extracted data were pooled using a random effect model. Weighted mean differences were calculated and heterogeneity was assessed.

RESULTS

The search yielded 281 abstracts. Ultimately, 95 studies were selected, describing 43 studies meeting the eligibility criteria. Systemic antibiotics showed a significant (p < 0.05) additional pocket depth reduction for moderate (at 3 mo 0.27 mm ± 0.09, at 6 mo 0.23 mm ± 0.10 and at 12 mo 0.25 mm ± 0.27) and deep pockets (at 3 mo 0.62 mm ± 0.17, at 6 mo 0.58 mm ± 0.16 and at 12 mo 0.74 mm ± 0.30). Statistically, no specific type of antibiotic was superior over another. However, when analysing the clinical data for initially moderate pockets or deep pockets, some trends became apparent.

CONCLUSION

Systemic antibiotics combined with SRP offer additional clinical improvements compared to SRP alone. Although there were no statistically significant differences, there was a trend that for initially moderate and deep pockets, metronidazole or metronidazole combined with amoxicillin, resulted in clinical improvements that were more pronounced over doxycycline or azithromycin. Additionally, there was a trend that the magnitude of the clinical benefit became smaller over time (1 year).