Periodontal dressing, as an adjunct to scaling and root planing: a randomized controlled clinical pilot study

Aim: The aim of the current pilot study was to compare the clinical efficacy of periodontal dressing, as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP), with SRP alone in patients with chronic periodontitis.
Method: In this randomized, pilot clinical trial design, 24 patients with chronic generalized periodontitis were included. The study population were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group I consisted of 12 individuals (8 males and 4 females; mean age: 42.75 years) who underwent scaling and root planing along with application of periodontal dressing. Group II consisted of 12 individuals (7 males and 5 females; mean age: 40.83 years) who underwent scaling and root planing. Clinical parameters, including site-specific plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth, and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline (before SRP) and after 1 month.
Results: There were no significant differences between groups I and II in baseline scores of PI, GI, PD and CAL. Both the groups showed statistically significant reduction in PI, GI, PD and CAL values from baseline to follow-up visits at 30 days. On inter group comparison a significant difference with respect to reduction in PI score in group I (periodontal dressing group) compared with group II (SRP group) was observed.
Conclusion: Within limitations of the study, no additional benefit of periodontal dressing in improving clinical parameters was found when applied as an adjunct to SRP.