EFFECTIVENESS OF PROBIOTICS AS AN ADJUNCT IN PERIODONTAL CARE

Jurgita Vazgytė, Ieva Vaškelytė, Urtė Marija Sakalauskaitė

Relevance of the problem. Periodontitis is a multifactorial inflammatory disease related with dysbiotic plaque biofilms and characterized by progressive destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus. Treatment of periodontitis aims to prevent further disease progression, to minimize symptoms and perception of the disease, possibly to restore lost tissues and to support patients in maintaining a healthy periodontium. Scaling and root planning (SRP) is the gold standard for the treatment of periodontitis. For the reduction in bacterial recolonization probiotics have been suggested as promising agents not only to retard recolonization, but also to increase the number of beneficial bacteria and to modulate immunological parameters in the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease.

Aim of the work. To find out and assess the data of clinical trials that proposes clinical outcomes of the adjunctive use of probiotic for 3 months after SRP in comparison to SRP combined with a placebo.

Tasks: 1) ascertain and assess the recolonization of bacteria after active treatment of periodontitis; 2) clarify and evaluate clinical variables improvement after the usage of local adjunctives; 3) find out and assess the distinction between different probiotics strains.

Material and methods. This literature review has been carried out in accordance with the PRISMA Statement [23]. Electronic literature review was performed using MEDLINE and ELSEVIER databases and the selection of the articles, published in English between 2010 and 2020 year. The search for publications was based on keywords and their combinations: chronic periodontitis, scaling and root planning, adjunct care, probiotics, supplements.

Results. This literature review includes eight suitable studies that met the inclusion criteria.

Conclusions. The qualitative findings of the studies showed that major part of the included trials reported significant improvement in clinical periodontal parameters in periodontitis patients with the adjunctive use of probiotics compared with control group. 75 % of included studies made with L. reuteri found probiotic containing L. reuteri usage as an adjunct therapy to be significant in the improvement of clinical parameters. Probiotic therapy could be used for managing periodontal diseases. This review puts a stress on L. reuteri effectiveness. However, further studies are needed to substantiate its longitudinal effect.