ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare subgingival irrigation with tetracycline
hydrochloride (TTC-HCL) as adjunctive treatment to scaling and root planning (SRP)
on induced periodontitis in rats. Material and methodsIn 60 rats, periodontal disease was ligature-induced at the mandibular left first
molar. After 7 days, the ligature was removed and all animals were submitted to
SRP, and divided into 2 groups according to the following treatment: C (n=30) -
subgingival irrigation with 1 mL of saline; T (n=30) - subgingival irrigation with
1 mL of TTC-HCL (50 mg/mL). Ten animals in each group were euthanized at 7, 15 and
30 days posttreatment. The histometric values were statistically analyzed
(p<0.05). ResultsIn the histometric analysis, at 7, 15 and 30 days, Group T (0.72±0.05
mm2, 0.57±0.14 mm2, 0.62±0.07 mm2), showed
less bone loss (p<0.05) than Group C (1.35±0.25 mm2; 1.40±0.31
mm2; 1.29±0.27 mm2), respectively. ConclusionsSubgingival irrigation with TTC-HCL was an effective adjunctive treatment for
periodontal disease induced in rats.