Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, Vol 8, 164-174, Copyright © 1997 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
Subgingival delivery of therapeutic agents in the treatment of periodontal diseases
W. A. Soskolne
Department of Periodontics, Hebrew University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
This article reviews the current status of controlled local delivery of
antibacterial agents in the treatment of periodontitis. The principle of
local intrapocket delivery of antibacterial agents and their delivery are
discussed. The dosage forms include fibers, film/slabs, and injectable
systems, some of which are degradable, while others are not and need to be
removed at the termination of the treatment. The antibacterial agents used
cover a range of antibiotics as well as antiseptics, and the composition of
the delivery systems, their reported use, and the clinical results are
summarized. The use of these systems in clinical practice is relatively
recent, and therefore their application and integration into the dental
office are not yet clearly defined. Clinical applications that have been
tested are critically reviewed, and clinical situations in which controlled
delivery of antibacterial agents may prove to be clinically useful are
suggested for scientific evaluation.
