A biochemical approach to periodontal regeneration: Tetracycline treatment conditions dentin surfaces

Abstract

Selective use of tetracycline HCl was studied to evaluate a potential treatment methodology. Tetracycline HCl adsorbed to dentin surfaces, binding 4.7 μg/mm 2 after a 5 min exposure to a 50 mg/ml tetracycline HCl solution. Desorption in a discontinuous flow assay maintained biologically active concentrations of tetracycline HCl in the fluid phase for at least 48 h. The tetracycline HCl bound, and subsequently released from dentin retained antimicrobial activity with an ID 50 of 3.7 μg/ml. Tetracycline HCl conditioning removed an amorphous surface layer, thereby exposing dentin with open tubules, as determined by scanning electron microscopy. These data suggest that tetracycline HCl‐treated root surfaces may act as a depot for release of active antibiotic, as well as serve as an improved substrate for connective tissue components vital to healing at the interface between hard and soft tissues.