The Effect of Systemic Metronidazole After Non‐Surgical Treatment in Moderate and Advanced Periodontitis in Young Adults

Abstract

The effect of adjunctive systemic metronidazole was studied in patients with moderate and advanced periodontitis recalcitrant to comprehensive non-surgical treatment. The material originated from a randomly selected part of the population aged 31 to 40 years. After non-surgical treatment of 149 patients, 98 with persisting pathological pockets greater than or equal to 5 mm (52 men and 46 women) became the subjects for the study. Clinical parameters were registered and pocket contents subjected to laboratory analysis. The subjects were randomized into two groups according to a code list known only by the manufacturer and the statistician. The test group took three 400 mg metronidazole tablets daily for 1 week and the control group took placebo tablets. Reassessment 6 months later showed statistically significant clinical improvement, with a reduction in the number of sites greater than or equal to 5 mm in both test and control groups. Complete healing, with no pockets greater than or equal to 5 mm, was noted in 30% of the test group and 9% of the control group. The difference is statistically significant and shows the supplementary effect of adjunctive metronidazole in non-surgical treatment of moderate and advanced periodontitis.