[Experimental study of a metronidazole gel inserted in periodontal pockets]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a gel containing 4% metronidazole and collagen in periodontal pockets deeper than 4 mm. The treatment was utilized in 10 subjects with pocketing in the premolar-molar regions. The experimental design was as follows: one quadrant was treated with scaling and root planning (S), one with the metronidazole gel (M), one with scaling, root planning and metronidazole gel (S & M), and the last quadrant remained untreated. Pocket depths, gingival index (GI), sulcular bleeding index (SBI) and plaque indices were recorded at 7, 14 and 30 days after the experiment began. Significant improvement of the parameters studied was noted in the S & M quadrants.