The evaluation of probiotic as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in chronic periodontitis patients - A clinical, microbiological and biochemical study

Introduction: As probiotics are emerging as an essential treatment modality for chronic periodontitis its role is not well established. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of probiotic as an adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) in chronic periodontitis. The clinical parameters, the levels of Matrix Metalloproteinases 8 in gingival crevicular fluid and the presence & reduction of Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival plaque samples were determined. Materials and Methods: This clinical study was conducted for 6 weeks with a single evaluator to investigate the effect of probiotic as an adjunct to SRP in chronic periodontitis. The clinical parameters were analyzed at baseline, 3 weeks and 6 weeks. This study also evaluated the effect of Probiotic on Matrix metalloproteinase 8 levels in GCF and on the existence of Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival plaque after 3 weeks. Results: Clinical parameters, gingival crevicular fluid Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 and Subgingival plaque levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis were reduced in Control (Group I) and Probiotic study (Group II) at baseline and 6 weeks. On comparing the groups, Group II had a significant decrease in clinical, microbiological and biochemical parameters than Group I, post treatment. Conclusion: Probiotics have great potential in arena of periodontics in terms of plaque formation, altering anaerobic bacterial colonization, reduction in Pocket Depth, gingival bleeding and clinical attachment level and in treating halitosis. Probiotics can be used as an effective adjunctive therapy to conventional non-surgical periodontal treatment in Chronic Periodontitis patients.