Methods: Thirty-one systemically healthy patients with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis and normal calcium blood level were included. The most obviously proximal vertical bony defect was selected in each patient as an area of interest (AOI). Subjects received initial periodontal therapy. They were randomized into two groups. The test group (n=17) received calcium (600 mg twice a day) and vitamin D (0.25 mcg once a day) supplements for 6 months. The control group (n=14) received placebos. At baseline and 6 months, probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and standardized vertical bitewing radiographs were recorded on AOI. Radiographs were processed by Image-Pro Plus version 7.0 for computer intensity measurement and digital subtraction analysis. Clinical parameters to monitor oral hygiene were recorded every 2 months.
Results: The test group (64.7%) showed a higher percentage of patients categorized as having gained bone in both radiographic evaluation methods when compared with the control group (35.7%) even though it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). At baseline and 6 months, no significant differences in PPD and CAL were found in intra- and inter-groups. However, slightly more PPD reduction and CAL gain were noted in test group.
Conclusions: Periodontal healing in vertical bony defects using calcium and vitamin D supplements was better than their non-use. Although not statistically different between groups, the test group tended to have more improvement.