OBJECTIVETo evaluate the short term clinical results of scaling and root planning (SRP) only, SRP combined with amoxicillin (AMX) and metronidazole (MTZ) after supragingival scaling or after SRP in the treatment of aggressive periodontitis (AgP).

METHODSA total of 45 patients with AgP were randomly divided into SRP group, SRP with AMX + MTZ after supragingival scaling group and AMX + MTZ after SRP group. Subgingival scaling and root planning were performed one week after supragingival scaling and finished within 1 month. AMX and MTZ were given for 7 days immediately after supragingival scaling or the last time of SPR. Clinical examinations including probing depth (PD), attachment level (AL) and bleeding index (BI) were performed at baseline and 8 weeks after non-surgical periodontal treatment by the same examiner.

RESULTSThere were more PD reduction and AL gain in both AMX + MTZ after supragingival scaling group and AMX + MTZ after SRP group compared with SRP group [2.5 (1.8, 3.3) mm, 2.3 (1.9, 2.7) mm vs. 1.8 (1.3, 2.1) mm, P < 0.05]; [0.9 (0.5, 1.4) mm, 0.8 (0.4, 1.3) mm vs. 0.4 (0.2, 1.0) mm, P < 0.05]. In sites PD ≥ 7 mm, PD reduction was more in AMX + MTZ after supragingival scaling group than AMX + MTZ after SRP group [4.0 (3.0, 5.0) mm vs. 4.0 (3.0, 4.0) mm, P < 0.05)].

CONCLUSIONSThe combined use of AMX and MTZ during non-surgical periodontal treatment for patients with AgP was effective in short term. In patients with most sites PD ≥ 7 mm, AMX and MTZ could be taken after supragingival scaling, but the long-term clinical effects needs further investigation.