Recent Advancements in Periodontal Drug Delivery Systems

Advances in understanding the etiology, epidemiology and microbiology of periodontal pocket flora have revolutionised the therapeutic strategies for the management of periodontal disease progression. The rationale for use of antibiotics in periodontal therapy is based on the concept that bacteria are the primary cause of periodontal diseases and thus treatment should be directed towards controlling the bacterial flora.. The effectiveness of mechanical debridement of plaque and repeated topical and systemic administration of antibacterial agents are limited due to the lack of accessibility to periodontopathic organisms in the periodontal pocket. Systemic administration of drugs leads to therapeutic concentrations at the site of infection, but for short periods of time, forcing repeated dosing for longer periods. Local delivery of antimicrobials has been investigated for the possibility of overcoming the limitations of conventional therapy. The use of sustained release formulations to deliver antibacterials to the site of infection (periodontal pocket) has recently gained interest. This review summarises the recent developments in the field of intra-pocket drug delivery systems and identifies areas where further research may lead to a clinically effective intra-pocket delivery system.