Comparative Assessment of Subgingivally Delivered 2% Curcumin Gel as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing in Smokers with Chronic Periodontitis: A Clinical Study.

Background: Chronic periodontitis is a common inflammatory condition that is worsened in smokers owing to the harmful impact of smoking on periodontal tissues. Curcumin gel has shown promise as a local medication delivery method owing to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects.

Materials and methods: A randomized clinical study was performed on 40 smokers diagnosed with chronic periodontitis. Participants were categorized into two groups: Group A (n = 20) had scale and root planing (SRP) only, while Group B (n = 20) got SRP in conjunction with curcumin gel as a local medication delivery supplement. Clinical measures, including as probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and gingival index (GI), were evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Curcumin gel was administered in periodontal pockets with probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥5 mm in patients of Group B.

Outcomes: At 8 weeks, Group B exhibited a significant decrease in PPD (mean reduction: 3.5 mm) compared to Group A (mean reduction: 2.0 mm). The improvement in clinical attachment level (CAL) was more pronounced in Group B (mean gain: 2.8 mm) compared to Group A (mean gain: 1.5 mm). Group B had a substantial drop in GI scores (mean reduction: 1.2) vs to Group A (mean reduction: 0.8). The supplementary use of curcumin gel led to statistically significant improvements in all clinical indicators (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Curcumin gel as a localized medication delivery adjunct significantly improves the clinical results of scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis in smokers.