Evaluation of ozone as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A randomized clinico-microbial study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mechanical plaque control is an essential part of periodontal therapy. In the present study, the efficacy of ozone water irrigation as an adjunct to scaling and root planing was evaluated in the treatment of generalized chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with chronic periodontitis selected for the study were randomly divided into Group A and Group B, receiving ozone water irrigation and distilled water irrigation, respectively, after scaling and root planing. Subgingival plaque was collected from the selected investigational teeth and was analyzed using BANA-Zyme™ Processor to evaluate the “red complex” periodontal pathogens. The clinical and microbiological parameters were recorded at baseline, 14 days, 21 days, and 2 months. RESULTS: The mean probing pocket depth scores for Group A and Group B at the baseline were 6.833 ± 1.193 and 7.833 ± 1.276; on day 14(th), they were 6.616 ± 1.403 and 7.083 ± 1.378; on day 21(st), they were 5.166 ± 0.937 and 6.083 ± 1.443;and on the 2(nd) month, they were 4.500 ± 0.797 and 5.166 ± 1.029, respectively. At the 2(nd) month, in Group A, 9 samples showed BANA negative and 3 samples showed BANA positive, and in Group B, 12 samples showed BANA negative and 0 sample showed BANA positive. The microbiological analysis showed a reduction in periodontal pathogens in both the groups. CONCLUSION: Significant improvement in both clinical and microbiological parameters suggests that subgingival ozonated water irrigation could be an efficient adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.