Restoring healthy subgingival microbiome following nonsurgical periodontal therapy

Researchers have assessed the benefit of an intensive antiplaque treatment regimen in patients who underwent nonsurgical periodontal therapy.

In a study published in the Journal of Periodontology, the researchers analyzed the outcomes of 86 patients with stage II or III periodontitis who received either nonsurgical periodontal therapy and a subsequent intensive antiplaque regimen — involving three months of 0.12% chlorhexidine and six months of interdental cleaners — or nonsurgical periodontal therapy alone. They then used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the subgingival microbiome.

Although the combination of nonsurgical periodontal therapy and the intensive antiplaque regimen was more effective at achieving a reduction in the distance to the healthy plane, the researchers observed variable treatment responses in both patient groups.

The findings highlighted the need for more personalized periodontal treatment strategies to restore subgingival microbiome health.

Read more: Journal of Periodontology

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