Tetracycline therapy in patients with early juvenile periodontitis.

Tetracycline therapy, when used in conjunction with surgery or root planing, has been shown to be effective in controlling the progression of juvenile Periodontitis. However, the ability of tetracycline alone to control the disease has not been assessed. The present study evaluated the effects of tetracycline therapy, with supragingival plaque control, on clinical attachment levels and radiographie bone height in patients with clinical and radiographie evidence of juvenile Periodontitis. The four patients (mean age 15.2 ± 0.3 yrs) each demonstrated loss of attachment of ≥2 mm at one or more probing sites and had accompanying radiographie evidence of early localized bone loss. Following an initial clinical evaluation consisting of pocket depths, attachment levels and standardized radiographs, the patients received systemic tetracycline therapy (1 gm/day for three to six weeks) and oral hygiene instruction. At the completion of antibiotic therapy, patients received a supragingival professional prophylaxis e...