Alendronate (ALN), an aminobisphosphonate, has been shown to inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption and is proposed to have osteostimulative properties. A study that explored the efficacy of 1% ALN gel as a local drug delivery system adjunctive to scaling and root planing (SRP) for the treatment of intrabony defects in subjects with chronic periodontitis was published recently in the Journal of Periodontology by Drs. Anuj Sharma and A. R. Pradeep. The study involved 66 intrabony defects which were treated either with 1% ALN gel or a placebo gel. ALN gel was prepared by adding ALN into carbopol-distilled water mixture. Clinical parameters of modified sulcus bleeding index, plaque index, probing depth (PD), and periodontal attachment level (PAL) were recorded at baseline, 2 months, and 6 months; radiographic parameters were recorded at baseline and 6 months. Defect fill at baseline and at 6 months was calculated on standardized radiographs using image analysis software. The study found that mean PD reduction and mean PAL gain were greater in the ALN group than the placebo group, both at 2 months and at 6 months. Significantly greater mean percentage of bone fill was found in the ALN group (40.4 ± 11.71%) compared to placebo group (2.5 ± 1.02%). The study concluded that local delivery of 1% ALN into periodontal pockets as an adjunct to SRP stimulated a significant increase in PD reduction, PAL gain, and improved bone fill as compared to placebo gel. These results could provide a new direction in the field of periodontal healing, according to the authors.

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(Source: Journal of Periodontology, published online May 24, 2011, joponline.org)

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