Effect of a controlled-release chlorhexidine chip on clinical and microbiological parameters of periodontal syndrome

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a controlled-released chlorhexidine chip (CHX) as adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with at least four sites with probing depth >or= 5 mm and bleeding on probing were selected. This randomized single-blind study was carried out in parallel design. The control group received SRP alone, while the test group received SRP plus CHX chip. The clinical parameters, Plaque Index (PlI), Papillary Bleeding Score (PBS), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), Gingival Recession (GR), Probing Depth (PD) and Relative Attachment Level (RAL), and the microbiological parameter BANA test were recorded at baseline and after 3, 6 and 9 months. RESULTS: Both groups presented significant improvements in all parameters analyzed over the study period. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for any parameter analyzed after 9 months, except for BOP, which was significantly reduced in the control group. The mean reductions on PD and RAL were 2.4 mm and 1.0 mm for the control group and 2.2 mm and 0.6 mm for the test group, respectively. CONCLUSION: The CHX chip did not provide any clinical or microbiological benefit beyond that achieved with conventional scaling and root planning, after a 9-month period.