July 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the histometric effects of subgingival irrigation with different solutions as adjuvant for the treatment of periodontal disease in rats. Periodontal disease was induced by ligature in the fi rst lower molars of 91 Wistar rats over the course of 28 days. After removal of the ligatures, the animals were subjected to scaling and root planing, followed by subgingival irrigation with different solutions (0.9% saline, 0.2% chlorhexidine, 0.1% and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite and 11% propolis extract). The animals were sacrifi ced 7 and 14 days after the treatment and tissue was processed for histometric analysis for evaluation of bone support and epithelial migration. The histometric analysis showed no statistically signifi cant differences between the group treated with scaling and groups treated with subgingival irrigation (p > 0.05) regarding bone support and epithelial migration. Similarly, signifi cant differences were not found among the different solutions used for subgingival irrigation. This study agrees with the position of the American Academy of Periodontology, which states that there is insufficient evidence to indicate the routine use of subgingival irrigation as adjuvant to periodontal treatment.