Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of 1.2% atorvastatin by CBCT in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Atorvastatin (ATV), which belongs to the statin class of drugs, is the formidable inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase. This clinical trial evaluated and compared the clinical and radiographic changes in chronic periodontitis (CP) patients, obtained through 1.2% ATV as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of intrabony defects (IBDs).

Twenty CP patients, with a minimum of one pair of bilateral IBDs, were randomly selected for this split-mouth study. Group 1 included 20 sites treated with SRP and subgingival delivery of a placebo gel, whereas an equal number of sites in group 2 were treated by SRP along with subgingival delivery of 1.2% ATV gel. The plaque index (PI), modified sulcus bleeding index (mSBI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were evaluated at baseline and 3- and 6-month intervals, while the IBD was assessed at baseline and 6-month interval using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Paired t-test was used to determine statistical significance.

A greater reduction in the mean PPD and gain in CAL was found in group 2 compared to group 1 at 3- and 6-month intervals. Furthermore, a significantly greater bone fill was obtained in group 2 (1.70±0.54 mm) compared to group 1 (0.22±0.43 mm) after six months.

ATV, as an adjunct to SRP, enhanced periodontal regeneration, as a noninvasive way to treat periodontal IBDs.