Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of minocycline microspheres on periodontal probing depth reduction when used in combination with surgery in adults with moderate to severe, chronic periodontitis.
Material and methods: Sixty patients with a minimum of one non-molar periodontal site > or =6 mm in two oral quadrants received either local minocycline microspheres at baseline, immediately following each of two surgical therapies (Weeks 2 and 3), and at Week 5 or surgery alone.
Results: The mean probing depth reduction at Week 25 at sites > or =5 mm at baseline was 2.51 mm in the test group and 2.18 mm in the control group. Smokers in the test group had a significantly greater probing depth reduction (2.30 mm) than smokers in the control group (2.05 mm). The number of sites with probing depth reductions of > or =2 and > or =3 mm were significantly higher in the test group than in the control group.
Conclusion: Applications of local minocycline as an adjunct to surgery in adults with moderate to severe, chronic periodontitis were associated with statistically significant greater reductions in probing depth than surgery alone.