The effects of adjunctive probiotic therapy in the non-surgical treatment of periodontitis: a histomorphometric study in rats

Abstract

Whereas the two main strategies for the treatment of periodontal disease are the elimination of specific pathogens and suppression of destructive host response, the use of probiotics opens a promising field to achieve these goals. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the adjuvant effect of probiotic therapy on scaling and root planning (SRP) in rats with ligature-induced periodontitis. 48 rats will be randomly divided into 4 groups: C (control), PD, PROB, PD/PROB. In Groups PD and PD/PROB, the left mandibular 1st molar of the animals will receive a silk ligature. After 14 days, the ligatures will be removed and the animals will be submitted to SRP. In Groups PROB and PD/PROB, the probiotic agent will be administered orally by addition to the drinking water of the animals. The Group PD/PROB will receive the probiotic agent after SPR. Six animals in each group will be euthanized at 7 and 15 days. The jaws will be resected and histomorphometric analysis will be performed. The measurements will include evaluation of attachment loss (distance in mm between cement-enamel junction and the epithelial attachment) and alveolar bone level (distance in mm between the cement-enamel junction and the most coronal border of the alveolar bone) in the distal root of the left mandibular 1st molars. The area (mm2) of bone loss in the furcation region of the molar will be also evaluated. The data obtained will be subjected to statistical analysis.(AU)