The effects of antiformin-citric acid chemical curettage on the microbial flora of the periodontal pocket.

This study investigated the hypothesis that antiformin-citric acid chemical curettage combined with scaling and root planing (SRP/AF) would significantly reduce pathogenic bacteria of the periodontal pocket when compared to scaling and root planing alone (SRP). Ten patients with moderate periodontitis participated. Four pockets per patient, one in each posterior sextant, were chosen. Pocket depths, attachment levels, and gingival index (GI) were measured. Bacterial samples were examined under dark-field microscope for: (1) spirochetes, (2) motile rods, and (3) all others. A randomized four-sextant treatment design was used. One sextant received no treatment, a second received SRP, and the two remaining sextants received identical treatments of SRP/AF. Of these two sextants, one was sampled at baseline and 12 weeks only in order to serve as an additional control. The remaining sextants were sampled at 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Both SRP and SRP/AF significantly reduced the percentage of spirochetes and motile rods. A significant reduction in GI and pocket depths was also noted. Attachment level showed no significant change. Results of both treatment groups showed no significant differences among any of the parameters. A comparison of the two SRP/AF groups indicated no significant difference among clinical or bacterial parameters due to sampling.