Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Periodontitis, also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.
Some studies have shown that the use of antibiotics can provide some benefits. However, there are no studies that have evaluated how well metronidazole works as an antibiotic in surgical periodontal therapy. Therefore, the objective of our study was to determine whether the use of an antibiotic (metronidazole), as an added treatment to periodontal surgery, provides additional clinical and microbiological benefits, in patients with generalized severe periodontitis.
Who can participate?
Systemically healthy patients of both genders, aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with generalized severe periodontitis.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to receive adjunctive metronidazole or placebo. Clinical variables were recorded at baseline, 6 weeks after subgingival instrumentation, and after 3, 6 and 12 months. Microbiological samples were taken at the initial and final visits and analyzed by multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
In this study, patients will benefit from non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatment of periodotitis. The treatment is expected to obtain improvements in periodontal clinical parameters such as a decrease in probing depth, gain in the level of clinical attachment, and resolution of inflammation. A greater decrease in bacterias would also be expected in the test group receiving the antibiotics. Although the adverse and unwanted effects associated with the use of systemic antibiotics must be taken into consideration.
Where is the study run from?
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (Dominican Republic)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2014 to May 2019
Who is funding the study?
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (Dominican Republic)
Who is the main contact?
Dr James R. Collins
jamescollins@pucmm.edu.do
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof James Collins
ORCID ID
Contact details
Av Abraham Lincoln esq. Simón Bolivar
Santo Domingo
1101
Dominican Republic
+1 (0)8094810572
jamescollins@pucmm.edu.do
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
Nil known
Study information
Scientific title
Adjunctive efficacy of systemic metronidazole in the surgical treatment of periodontitis: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
To determine whether the use of a systemic antimicrobial (metronidazole), as an adjunctive treatment to periodontal surgery (step 3), provides additional clinical and microbiological benefits, in patients with severe generalised chronic periodontitis (generalised stages III-IV, grades B-C periodontitis).
Ethics approval
Approved 12/03/2015, Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Health (COBE) of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) (Autopista Duarte Km 1 1/2, Santiago, República Dominicana; +1 (809) 580-1962, ext. 4416; brodriguez@pucmm.edu.do), ref: COBE-FACS-EXT-003-1-2014-2015
Study design
Randomized parallel placebo-controlled double-blinded clinical trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
No participant information sheet available
Condition
Severe generalised chronic periodontitis (generalised stages III-IV, grades B-C periodontitis)
Intervention
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment groups in ascending order, at the time of surgery, according to a balanced distribution system (random block design, block size = 6).
1. Test group: blisters consisted of 500 mg metronidazole, to be taken three times per day for 7 days after the last surgery
2. Placebo group
In the initial evaluation, a clinical examination is carried out to establish the periodontal diagnosis. Clinical measurements include: PD and gingival recession/overgrowth (REC), measured to the nearest millimeter; CAL, calculated as the sum⁄rest of PD and REC; bleeding on probing (BOP), assessed dichotomously. Plaque index (PlI) is also assessed. In each quadrant, the most accessible location with the deepest PD and BOP is selected. Subgingival plaque samples are obtained at the same sites throughout the study at the deepest site of each quadrant. All participants receive motivational sessions on oral hygiene instructions and scaling and root planning. Six weeks after the last session of SRP, the re-evaluation is performed and a new full periodontal examination is performed. Those presenting multiple locations with PD ≥5 mm with BOP in ≥1 quadrant received periodontal surgery through open flap debridment. After the last surgical procedure is performed, the medication is provided to the participants, with the instructions to start with the drug regime, three times a day for 7 days. Clinical parameters are recorded 3 months after the last surgery session, and then after 6 and 12 months. Following the active treatment, at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months all patients receive a full mouth professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR), including SRP as needed and polishing of all dental surfaces present, in both groups.
Intervention type
Mixed
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Probing Depth (PD), measured using a UNC-15 mm periodontal probe (Hu-Friedy, Leinmen, Germany) at baseline and 12-month visit
Secondary outcome measures
At baseline, 3 months after the last surgery session, and then after 6 and 12 months:
1. Probing Depth distribution [⁄overgrowth (measured to the nearest millimeter), Clinical Attachment Loss (calculated as the sum⁄rest of PD and REC) and open pockets measured using a UNC-15 mm periodontal probe (Hu-Friedy, Leinmen, Germany)
2. Plaque Index recorded using the O'Leary Index
3. Bleeding on Probing measured using a dichotomous analysis (presence or absence)
4. Microbiological variables (frequency of detection and counts of each targeted bacteria) samples analysed by multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), at baseline and after 12 months following surgical therapy
Overall trial start date
29/04/2014
Overall trial end date
15/05/2019
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Severe generalized chronic periodontitis (Armitage, 1999), corresponding to generalized stage III-IV periodontitis, with grades B-C (Caton et al., 2018; Papapanou et al., 2018; Tonetti, Greenwell, & Kornman, 2018)
2. A least 10 teeth in function, excluding third molars
3. Sites with PD> 5 mm, in ≥2 teeth in ≥1 quadrant
4. Radiographic evidence of bone loss ≥30% in, at least, 30% of the dentition
5. Older than 18 years
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Two groups with 25 patients each
Total final enrolment
40
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Pregnant or breastfeeding women
2. Systemic diseases and/or chronic medications that may affect the periodontal status and /or requiring antibiotic prophylaxis
3. Having received systemic antimicrobial treatment in the previous 3 months
4. Have received periodontal treatment in the 6 months prior to the start of the study
5. Allergic to metronidazole, or to any of the components of their commercial formulations (Metrex 500 mg®, Laboratorio Union SRL, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana)
6. Refuse to sign the informed consent
7. Smokers ≥10 cigarettes/day
Recruitment start date
10/02/2015
Recruitment end date
15/02/2018
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Dominican Republic
Trial participating centre
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM-CSD)
Av Abraham Lincoln esq. Simón Bolivar
Santo Domingo
10109
Dominican Republic
Sponsor information
Organisation
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra
Sponsor details
Av Abraham Lincoln esq. Simón Bolivar
Santo Domingo
10109
Dominican Republic
+1 (0)8095350111 Ext. 2094
jeanmybautista@pucmm.edu.do
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
University/education
Funder name
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Study protocol can be available on request. Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal.
Intention to publish date
10/03/2021
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list