The role of systemic antibiotics in periodontal therapy

The Specific Plaque Hypothesis (SPH) has resulted in a renewed interest in the use of systemic antibiotics in the treatment of periodontal disease. Current data indicate that most cases of periodontitis can be treated satisfactorily with scaling and root planing alone. There are some cases of periodontitis however which remain refractory to mechanical debridement or which recur shortly after treatment. The data indicate that the use of antibiotics along with scaling and root planing during the treatment of these cases of periodontitis will result in significant improvement in the periodontal health of these patients. Antibiotics may also be indicated in patients with systemic diseases which may adversely affect the periodontium.