A Current Review of Local Metronidazole Antibiotics for the Treatment of Periodontal Disease

Abstract

Periodontal disease affects around 14.5% of the global adult population. It affects the tooth's supporting
tissues, causing inflammation and tooth loss. Periodontitis treatment aims to prevent further disease
progression by restoring the lost tissue and preventing bacterial infection. Nevertheless, periodontal
breakdown may still occur post-treatment due to the periodontal pathogens. Antibiotics were utilized to
control and prevent the infection. Local drug delivery system (LDD) is being developed to deliver the
antibiotic due to its site-specific benefits. Metronidazole (MET) is widely used to treat periodontal
infection following treatments due to its efficacy against obligate anaerobes and broad-spectrum
characteristics. Despite its advantages, MET is attributed to systemic side effects. Therefore, this article
aimed to review in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on the current local application of MET to treat
periodontal diseases. 13 relevant research articles were analysed and provide valuable insights into the
local application of metronidazole for periodontal treatment.
Keywords: metronidazole; local drug delivery; periodontitis, antibiotic