[Simplified oral hygiene with subgingival pulsating jet irrigation with and without a dilute metronidazole solution as an adjunct for control of chronic periodontal disease].

This study compared the clinical effects of 0.05% metronidazole solution (MD) applied subgingivally using pulsated monojet irrigation following a single episode of scaling and root planing and simplified oral hygiene instruction, with the same system using a placebo solution (MDP). Twelve patients with 129 approximal units (pocket depth greater than or equal to 4 mm) in the MD group and 170 in the MDP group took part in the study. Within procedure comparisons revealed statistically highly significant reductions in Plaque Index, gingival oedema, Sulcus Bleeding Index, and probeable pocket depth in both groups. However between procedure comparisons indicated that the MD group showed more reduction in PI1, SBI and gingival oedema. Improvements in PPD were not significant except at day 56. The differences between groups were small clinically.