Effect of tetracycline HCl in the treatment of chronic periodontitis – A clinical study

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the adjunctive use of tetracycline fibers (Periodontal Plus AB(®)) as a local drug delivery with scaling and root planing, as compared with the results of one episode of scaling and root planing for the treatment of chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effectiveness of Periodontal Plus AB (tetracycline fiber) was assessed in 100 patients suffering from chronic periodontitis using split-mouth technique. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The relative efficacy of the two treatment modalities was evaluated using the paired Student's t-test, and the comparative evaluation between the two groups was done using the independent Student's t-test. RESULTS: Significant improvement was found in all the variables, including reduction in pocket depth and gain in clinical attachment level, in both test and control groups in 3 months, which was statistically significant. Mean reduction in pocket depth and gain in clinical attachment level were more in test than in control group. CONCLUSION: Tetracycline fiber therapy along with scaling and root planing improves the healing outcome, namely, reduction in pocket depth and gain in clinical attachment level, when compared to scaling and root planing alone.