"Clinical Efficacy Of 1% Alendronate Gel in Adjunct to Mechanotherapy in the Treatment of Aggressive Periodontitis - A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial"

Author(s): Sharma DA, Pradeep DA

Affiliation(s): Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore-560002, Karnataka, INDIA.

Publication date & source: 2011-05-24, J Periodontol., [Epub ahead of print]

Background: Bisphosphonates represent a class of pharmacological agents that have potentially important role in the treatment of periodontitis and bone disorders. The present study aimed to explore the clinical efficacy of 1% alendronate (ALN) gel as local drug delivery system in adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) for the treatment of aggressive periodontitis (AgP) subjects in comparison with placebo gel. Material and Methods: 52 intrabony defects from 17 AgP subjects were treated either with 1% ALN gel or placebo gel. ALN gel was prepared by adding ALN into carbopol-distilled water mixture. Clinical parameters [Modified sulcus bleeding index, Plaque index, probing depth (PD) and periodontal attachment level (PAL)] were recorded at baseline, 2 month and 6 month while radiographic parameters were recorded at baseline and 6 month. Defect fill at baseline and at 6 month was calculated on standardized radiographs by using the image analysis software. Results: Mean PD reduction was greater in ALN group (3.88 +/- 1.39 mm) compared to placebo (1.65 +/- 1.35 mm) at 6 month. Similarly mean PAL gain was greater in ALN group (3.27 +/- 1.11 mm) than placebo group (1.42 +/- 1.70 mm), at 6 month. Furthermore, significantly greater mean percentage of bone fill was found in the ALN group (46.1 +/- 9.48 %) compared to placebo group (2.0 +/- 1.02 %). Conclusions: The results of the present study showed local delivery of 1% ALN stimulated a significant increase in the PD reduction, PAL gain, and improved bone fill as compared to placebo gel an adjunct to SRP in AgP subjects. However, long term, multicenter randomized, controlled clinical trial will be required to know its clinical, histological and radiographical effect over bone regeneration in AgP subjects.