Chlorhexidine chip in the treatment of chronic periodontitis - a clinical study

Sangeetha Medaiah; M Srinivas; Anil Melath; Suragimath Girish; Tejaswin Polepalle; Ankineedu Babu Dasari

doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/8808.4477

Chlorhexidine chip in the treatment of chronic periodontitis - a clinical study

J Clin Diagn Res. 2014 Jun;8(6):ZC22-5. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2014/8808.4477. Epub 2014 Jun 20.

Authors

Sangeetha Medaiah¹, M Srinivas², Anil Melath³, Suragimath Girish³, Tejaswin Polepalle⁴, Ankineedu Babu Dasari⁵

Affiliations

¹ Senior Lecturer, Department of Periodontology, Farooquia Dental College , Mysore, India .
² Professor, Department of Periodontology, SIBAR Institute of Dental Sciences , Guntur, India .
³ Professor, Department of Periodontology, Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences , Virajpet, India .
⁴ Senior Lecturer, Department of Periodontology, SIBAR Institute of Dental Sciences , Guntur, India .
⁵ Lecturer, Department of Periodontology, SIBAR Institute of Dental Sciences , Guntur, India .

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate the use of biodegradable chlorhexidine chip when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of moderate to severe periodontitis patients. The study also intended to compare the combined therapy (SRP and Chlorhexidine chip) with chlorhexidine chip alone in individuals with periodontitis.

Materials and methods: Fifteen patients with three sites having a probing depth of 5-8mm were considered for the study. Sites were numbered 1, 2, 3 randomly. The clinical parameters assessed were the Plaque Index (PI), gingival index (GI), Bleeding on probing (BOP), Clinical attachment level (CAL) and Probing pocket depth (PPD). Following baseline evaluation, on two sites scaling and root planing (SRP) was performed, no treatment was carried out in the third site. Chlorhexidine chips were placed on one site with SRP and another without SRP. A periodontal pack was placed on the site to prevent dislodgement of the CHX chip. Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline, one month and three months. Duration of the study was for three months.

Statistical analysis: T-test and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been carried out in the present study.

Results: All three groups presented with an improvement in the clinical parameters compared to baseline. There was no statistically significant difference between the SRP and SRP + CHIP group in all parameters. There was a significant difference when these two groups were compared to the chip alone group. The mean reductions in PPD were 2.8mm (SRP group), 2.6 (SRP+CHIP group), 0.8 (chip alone group) The mean gain in CAL were 2.8mm (SRP group), 2.5 (SRP+CHIP group), 0.7 (chip alone group). Reduction in bleeding on probing were significant for the SRP and SRP +CHIP group but not for the chip alone group.

Conclusion: The CHX chip did not provide any clinical benefit beyond that achieved with conventional scaling and rootplaning after a three month period.

Keywords: Chlorhexidine; Local drug delivery; Periodontitis; Scaling and rootplaning.