Adjunctive Periodontal Treatment using a Novel, Commercially Available Chitosan Powder

Background: Nonsurgical therapies for periodontal disease are considered the first line treatment. Advances in nonsurgical treatments are being explored. Here we used a chitosan powder in a pilot study to evaluate a novel treatment as an adjunct to Scaling and Root Planning (SRP). This pilot study was a prospective, single arm, open label study to assess the chitosan’s ability to perform as an adjunctive treatment for periodontal disease. Methods and Materials: Subjects with at least one pocket with a depth ≥ 5mm were enrolled at 10 different clinical locations. Subjects were evaluated for pocket depth, bleeding on probing, inflammation and an Oral Hygiene Index. SRP was performed and then chitosan powder was deposited in the pocket. A 30 day follow up was performed and the assessments were recorded. Results: A total of 49 subjects were evaluated. A statistically significant reduction was observed in the assessments compared to the baseline time point. Against the standard of care, SRP, as a historical control the pocket depth; bleeding on probing; and inflammation showed a marked reduction against SRP alone. Conclusion: This pilot study has demonstrated the use of a commercially available chitosan powder, PerioStom, as an adjunct to SRP. Its use provided remarkable results in the clinical outcomes for those treated in this study with periodontal disease.