Subgingival triclosan-polydimethylsiloxane gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing

To evaluate the influence of a triclosan-polydimethylsiloxane-containing gel when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing on the treatment of chronic periodontal disease.

A 3-month, double-blind, randomized parallel design clinical trial was performed in 20 subjects with chronic periodontitis. The subjects, presenting at least three anterior sites with probing depth (PD) +/- 5 mm and bleeding on probing (BoP), were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: Group SRP-T: scaling/root planing plus test gel application (triclosan 1% + polydimethylsiloxane 13%) or Group SRP: scaling/root planing plus control gel application (polydimethylsiloxane 13%). Immediately following mechanical therapy, each assigned gel was applied to the selected sites and once a week during the following 3 weeks. Re-examinations were carried out on days 45 and 90 after the last irrigation.

Significant reductions in PD and clinical attachment level (CAL) were observed for both groups in both periods (P < 0.05). However, SRP-T showed lower means of PD than SRP at Day 45 (3.60 +/- 0.87 versus 4.77 +/- 1.38, respectively, P = 0.035) and CAL at both 45 days (4.63 +/- 1.17 versus 6.07 +/- 1.43, P = 0.023) and 90 days (4.45 +/- 1.19 versus 5.91 +/- 1.37, P = 0.021). No differences were found for bleeding on probing, plaque index and gingival recession (P > 0.05) between groups.