Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy of Biodegradable Chip Containing (miswak) Extract in Chitosan Base as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing in the Management of Periodontitis.

OBJECTIVES

This study attempted to develop 2 biodegradable periodontal chips containing (miswak) or benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) extracts and evaluate their clinical effectiveness in managing periodontitis.

METHODS

This clinical trial was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, from September 2010 to April 2012. Periodontal chips were formulated using , benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and chitosan extracts. All patients were treated with full mouth scaling and root planing at baseline. Thereafter, the periodontal pockets (≥5 mm in length) were divided into 4 groups: the control group; group 2 (plain chitosan chip); group 3 ( extract); and group 4 (BITC extract). Plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), periodontal probing pocket depth and clinical attachment levels were recorded at days 0 and 60 only.

RESULTS

A total of 12 patients participated in this study. Overall, 240 periodontal pockets were evaluated. The study revealed significant improvements in PI, BOP and reduction in periodontal pocket depth in all 4 groups ( <0.05). The improvement in clinical attachment level was significantly higher ( <0.001) among the group that received chips compared to the control and other chip-treated groups.

CONCLUSION

Periodontal chips containing can be used as adjuncts to treat patients with periodontitis.