Periodontal Maintenance Following Scaling and Root Planing: Comparing Minocycline Treatment to Daily Oral Irrigation with Water
Genovesi AM, Lorenzi C, Lyle DM et al. Minerva Stomatol 2013; 62(Suppl. 1 to No. 12):1–9.
Study conducted at the Tuscan Stomatologic Institute, Department of Dentistry, Versilia General Hospital, Lido di Camaiore (LU), Italy.
Objective
To assess the efficacy of daily Waterpik™ Water Flossing in comparison with subgingival minocycline treatment in subjects with moderate to severe periodontitis.
Methodology
In this single-centre, parallel, single-blind, randomised clinical study, thirty subjects with moderate to severe periodontitis were assigned to either a minocycline-treated group or a Water Flossing group.
All participants received scaling and root planing, followed by instruction on proper home-based oral hygiene.
One group received subgingival minocycline in their deepest periodontal pockets at the initial hygiene visit, while the second group was instructed to use a Waterpik Water Flosser once daily.
Clinical and microbiological parameters were measured at baseline and again after thirty days.
Results
Both the Waterpik Water Flosser and the minocycline groups experienced significant reductions in all clinical parameters after thirty days.
The Water Flosser group achieved an 81% reduction in bleeding, compared with 76% in the minocycline group.
Both treatments effectively reduced key indicators of periodontitis, including bleeding on probing, pocket depth, and clinical attachment levels.
Conclusion
The Waterpik Water Flosser is an effective alternative to subgingival antibiotic therapy for periodontal maintenance patients over a thirty-day period.