Local drug delivery in the management of periodontal diseases part 2: specific agents

Local drug delivery systems (LDDs) are mainly used as adjuncts to root surface instrumentation (RSI) in the management of periodontal disease. A range of antibacterial agents have been used for this purpose and include the tetracyclines, chlorhexidine, metronidazole, azithromycin, clarithromycin and moxifloxacin. More recently, other non-antibacterial agents have been incorporated into local delivery devices and include simvastatin, metformin and alendronate. This paper will review the effectiveness of such agents when used as an adjunct to conventional non-surgical periodontal therapy. Clinical Relevance: The benefits of adjunctive use of local drug delivery in the management of periodontal disease will be discussed.