Comparative evaluation of decalcified freeze dried bone allograft with and without local doxycycline in non-contained human periodontal infrabony defects

BACKGROUND: Doxycycline has been advocated as useful adjuncts in periodontal therapy not only due to their antimicrobial actions, but also to their recently recognized anti-collagenolytic, anti-inflammatory, osteoclast inhibitory and fibroblast stimulating property. The purpose of the present cohort study was to evaluate the regenerative outcomes of bone graft with or without local doxycycline in non-contained infrabony periodontal defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 one or two wall infrabony defects, in 11 patients suffering from moderate to severe chronic periodontitis, aged 35-60 years, were randomly divided for bone graft, alone (control) and with doxycycline (test) for the study. At baseline, after 3 months and after 6 months of post-operative period, pocket probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), radiological bone fill (RBF) and alveolar height reduction were recorded. Analysis of variance and Newman-Keuls post-hoc test were used or statistical analysis. A two-tailed probability (P) value P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: For the control group PPD reduction 2.00 ± 0.18 mm, CAL gain 1.38 ± 0.17 mm, RBF 0.63 ± 0.27 mm (18.0%) was observed while in the test group PPD reduction 2.00 ± 0.38 mm, CAL gain 1.25 ± 0.31 mm, RBF 0.75 ± 0.31 mm (20.7%) was evaluated. While alveolar height reduction for the control group and test group was 13% and 12.5% respectively. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed no added benefits of local doxycycline, as compared with bone graft alone, for regeneration of non-contained human periodontal infrabony defects.