Effectiveness of Subgingival Irrigation after Root Planing in Advanced Periodontitis

Objectives: To compare the effect of subgingival irrigation with different medicaments after root planing on clinical parameters in advanced periodontitis. Methods:23 advanced periodontitis patients with at least 4 teeth with probing depth more than 6 mm completed the study. 3 teeth of each patient were irrigated with 3% hydrogen peroxide, 0.2% Chlorhexidine, 0.9% Sodium chloride respectively, the left one as control. Irrigation from bottom of the periodontal pocket, and probing depth(PD), supragingival plaque(PLI), gingival bleeding on probing(BOP) were measured before root planing, one week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the treatment. Results:At 4 weeks after root planing in combination with irrigation, PLI and BOP reduction were 29.8% and 49.1%, 33.5% and 42.4%, 27.6% and 31.9%, 28.8% and 30.2% in 3% hydrogen peroxide, 0.2% Chlorhexidine, 0.9% sodium chloride irrigation groups and controls respectively. The PLI reduction was not significantly different among these groups(p>0.05), but BOP reduction in 3% hydrogen peroxide, 0.2% Chlorhexidine groups was significantly higher than that in 0.9% sodium chloride irrigation group and controls. PD reduction was 1.8mm, 2.5mm, 2.7mm, 1.9mm respectively, and no significant difference among these groups. No side effects were observed during the treatment.Conclusion:Subgingival irrigation with 3% hydrogen peroxide, 0.2% Chlorhexidine can help improve the gingival inflammation status when combined with root planing in treating advanced periodontitis.