The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effects of scaling and root planing combined with local application of 2% minocycline gel to patients with moderate to advanced chronic adult periodontitis. 27 healthy patients with moderate to advanced chronic adult periodontitis were enrolled in the study. The quadrants that had 2 or more teeth with 5~8mm probing pocket depth and radiographic evidence of alveolar bone loss were selected and divided into test side and control side according to the splitmouth design.

All patients received standardized oral hygiene instructions at the beginning of the study. Subsequently scaling and root plaining was performed on all remaining teeth until 0 week. The 2% minocycline gel was applied to periodontal pocket at 0, 1, 2, 3 week in the test side. The normal saline was irrigated subgingivally for about 30 seconds in the control side. The clinical and microbiological analysis was carried out at 0, 4, 8, and 12weeks.

The results of this study were as follows;

1. 2% minocycline gel delivered subgingivally as an adjunct to scaling and root planing provided benefit in reducing sulcular bleeding index and pocket depth than the use of normal saline.

2. The relative proportion of cocci and non-motile bacteria was increased in the test and control groups with time, and there was no statistically significantdifference between two groups.

3. The proportion of spirochetes was slowly reduced in the control group, but, inthe test group, they were remarkably reduced from the 4th week, and there was a statistically significant difference between two groups.

4. In both groups, the relative proportion of motile rods was notably decreasedat the beginning of the study, and remained until 12th week in the test group,but, in the control group, they were slowly increased from the 4th weekand finally similar to that of the initial examination.

In conclusion, local application of 2% minocycline gel may be effective in the clinical and microbiological aspects as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in periodontal disease sites.