Tetracycline fiber used alone or with scaling and root planing in periodontal maintenance patients: Clinical results
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical response to tetracycline fibers (TCF) administered alone or in conjunction with scaling and root planing (S/RP) in adult periodontal maintenance patients. A total of 25 patients were enrolled in this six-month study. These were selected from a periodontal maintenance group of patients that were at least 21 years old and with at least one pocket > 4 mm that bled on probing. Thirty-six teeth were selected to receive TCF therapy for 7-12 days; additional S/RP treatment was administered at baseline in one-third of the population. The selection of treatment was based on the investigators' evaluation of the condition of the teeth, rather than a random process.
Two groups were formed according to the treatment provided: TCF alone and TCF and S/RP. Treatment results were assessed by changes in probing depths and bleeding on probing. The use of TCF and S/RP produced reductions of 1.7 mm, while TCF alone produced reductions of 1.8 mm one month after treatment. These reductions declined to 0.8 mm and 1.3 mm at three months, but rebounded to 1.3 mm and 1.5 mm at six months. The percentage of teeth with bleeding on probing decreased from 100% at baseline to 68% and 50% in the TCF and TCF-S/RP respectively at six months. None of the differences were statistically significant.
In conclusion, tetracycline fibers decreased clinical signs of periodontal inflammation. The addition of S/RP at the time of fiber placement further decreases the degree of inflammation. [C.C.]
Cattabriga, M., V. Pedrazzoli, A. Cattabriga, E. Pannuti M. Trapani, and G.C.Verocchi Quint Int, 27:395, 1996