Background: Successful prevention and treatment of periodontal disease are contingent on effective control of periodontopathic microbiota based on the premise of periodontal disease being infectious disorders. An anti‑microbial agent, i.e., doxycycline has been incorporated intothe allograft to control infection and facilitate healing during and after periodontal therapy.

 Materials and Methods: Using a split‑mouth design, 15 patients showing clinical evidence of almost identical bilateral infrabony defects requiring bone grafting procedures were randomly selected. In each patient, infrabony defects on one side were designated as Group A (control group)and infrabony defects of the contralateral side of the same arch were designated as Group B (testgroup). Clinical assessment of probing pocket depth and attachment level and radiographic evaluationof the defect depth was done pre‑operatively and at 12‑week and 24‑week post‑operatively. Therelative efficacy of the two treatment modalities was evaluated using paired Student’s t‑test andthe comparative evaluation between the two groups over the 3 time intervals was done usingindependent Student’s t‑test.

 Results: Both the groups exhibited a highly significant reduction in probing depth and gain in clinical attachment level (CAL) and a linear bone fill at the end of 12 and 24 weeks. Comparativeevaluation showed a statistically significant gain in bone fill in Group B as compared to Group A,whereas a non‑significant reduction in probing depth and gain in CALs between the two groups atthe end of 24 weeks (whereas mean reduction in probing depth and gain in CAL were also greaterin Group B but the difference was statistically non‑significant).

 Conclusion: The increase in linear bone fill in Group B signifies the role of doxycycline in augmenting regenerative potential of allograft by combating residual infection and through hostmodulation.

 Source: Dental Research Journal

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