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A preliminary evaluation of the use of a redox agent in the treatment of chronic periodontitis
Author(s) -
Wilson M.,
Gibson M.,
Strahan D.,
Harvey W.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of periodontal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.31
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0765
pISSN - 0022-3484
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1992.tb01826.x
Subject(s) - chronic periodontitis , methylene blue , periodontitis , dentistry , gingival and periodontal pocket , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , redox , facultative , gram positive cocci , bacteria , gastroenterology , biology , chemistry , staphylococcus aureus , ecology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , photocatalysis , catalysis , genetics
A small‐scale clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of a redox agent, methylene blue, on microbiological and clinical indices of chronic periodontitis. Methylene blue was applied subgingivally on a daily basis for 7 d to 25 test sites in 7 patients and the sites evaluated clinically and microbiologically for up to 14 d: 25 control sites in the same patients received sterile water. The test sites showed statistically significant differences from the control sites in terms of changes in a number of clinical and microbiological indices. In the test sites the proportions of anaerobes. Gram‐negative anaerobes, spirochetes and motile bacteria decreased, as did the crevicular fluid flow, while the proportions of facultative anaerobes and cocci increased. These changes are indicative of a shift towards periodontal health. No significant differences were observed between the test and control sites in terms of bleeding on probing or pocket depth. The encouraging results of this preliminary study suggest that the use of redox agents in the treatment of chronic periodontitis warrants further investigation.