Tetracycline therapy, when used in conjunction with surgery or
root planing, has been shown to be effective in controlling the progression of
juvenile periodontitis. However, the ability of
tetracycline alone to control the disease has not been assessed. The present study evaluated the effects of
tetracycline therapy, with supragingival plaque control, on clinical attachment levels and radiographic bone height in patients with clinical and radiographic evidence of
juvenile periodontitis. The four patients (mean age 15.2 +/- 0.3 yrs) each demonstrated loss of attachment of greater than or equal to 2 mm at one or more probing sites and had accompanying radiographic evidence of early localized bone loss. Following an initial clinical evaluation consisting of pocket depths, attachment levels and standardized radiographs, the patients received systemic
tetracycline therapy (1 gm/day for three to six weeks) and
oral hygiene instruction. At the completion of
antibiotic therapy, patients received a supragingival professional prophylaxis every two weeks for three months, whereupon the initial evaluation was repeated. On comparing the initial and three-month clinical and radiographic data, there were significant decreases in clinical and radiographic measurements. For a total of 85 affected probing sites around 26 teeth, 79% decreased in pocket depth by greater than or equal to 2 mm (with no sites increasing in pocket depth) and 69% gained clinical attachment (with only one site losing attachment of 1 mm). Radiographic measurements revealed an increase in both the height and area of coronal alveolar bone. The findings indicated that six weeks of systemic
tetracycline therapy combined with supragingival plaque control was effective in the initial control of early
juvenile periodontitis.