UCSF

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the use of sodium hypochlorite irrigation as adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing for periodontal disease. The study focuses on the potential effects of sodium hypochlorite on the sub-gingival microbiological composition and clinical periodontal parameters.

Methods

This study is a single site, randomized, parallel clinical trial on subjects who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe periodontitis based on clinical examination. Clinical periodontal parameters, including plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment loss, are measured at baseline and at 4-6 weeks. Subjects are randomly treated with either scaling and root planing with water irrigation or scaling and root planing with 0.05% sodium hypochlorite irrigation. Subgingival microbial samples were collected from two sites per subject at baseline and at final evaluation at 4-6 weeks.

Results

A total of eight subjects completed the study. There was a decrease in pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, and plaque in both groups after 4-6 weeks, but the differences between the groups were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Although this was a small study that showed no difference between irrigation with 0.05% sodium hypochlorite and water, this study provided further insight into the antimicrobial effects of NaOCl. The effect scaling and root planing on the clinical parameters of periodontal disease is seen. NaOCl has the potential to be an affordable and widely accessible treatment modality for periodontitis patients worldwide.