The use of antimicrobial acrylic strips in the nonsurgical management of chronic periodontitis.

Evidence to date has demonstrated the potential value of acrylic strips to deliver antimicrobial compounds into periodontal pockets. The present study was designed to evaluate further the therapeutic effect of antimicrobial acrylic strips in the management of chronic periodontitis. A total of 101 pockets in 69 patients were randomly treated with (1) chlorhexidine strips, (2) metronidazole strips, (3) tetracycline strips, (4) root planing, and (5) combined root planing and metronidazole strips. Immediately before and after treatment clinical measurements of disease were recorded over a three-month period. For all treatment groups significant improvements in clinical parameters were seen compared to control untreated sites but the most effective treatment was combined root planing and metronidazole and the least effective chlorhexidine. Although not significant, combined root planing and metronidazole also appeared to produce some adjunctive effects on clinical parameters compared to root planing alone. Antimicrobial acrylic strips appear useful treatments for chronic periodontitis, but should be used primarily as an adjunct to conventional root planing.