Metronidazole dental gel as an alternative to scaling and root planing in the treatment of localized adult periodontitis. Is its efficacy proved?

Eight randomized clinical trials, comparing the application of 25% metronidazole dental gel (Elzylol dental gel) once a week for two weeks with scaling and root planing in the "split-mouth" design for treating adult periodontitis, were evaluated and scored according to ANTCZAK et al. (1986) and BEGG et al. (1996). The aim of this investigation was to determine whether both treatment methods are of equal value. With a maximum of 1.0 in each case, the scores determined were (M +/- SD) 0.107 +/- 0.033 (range 0.072-0.168) for reporting the study protocol and 0.285 +/- 0.084 (range 0.120-0.400) for the data analysis, presentation and discussion. Though the study results show that both treatment modalities are of equal value, the quality of the trials does not allow a comparative therapy assessment at present. The state of the data is inadequate for applying local metronidazole dental gel as an alternative to mechanical instrumentation in adult periodontitis.