The Clinical and Radiographic Effects of Sodium Alendronate in Moderate Chronic Periodontitis

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by loss of connective tissue attachment and alveolar bone. The prevention of bone loss may be enhanced by modulating the host response. So, methods which are able to change the host response can be used as adjunction in treatment of periodontitis. One of the medicaments used for this purpose is sodium alendronate(ALN). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of alendronate on alveolar bone loss in treatment of periodontitis In this double blind clinical trial, 22 patients (11female, 11male)with moderate periodontitis and average age of 35-50 were selected and divided into two groups. Group I received one capsule of sodium alendronate once a week for 6 month. Group II received placebo during the study period. All the patients received phase I treatment. In order to evaluate alveolar bone height, a periapical radiograph was taken in parallel method at first visit and after 6 months, in the same position. The radiographs were obtained from mandibular second premolar and first molar area and were evaluated with adobe photoshop CS version. The periodontal parameters of the same area(probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level)were measured in initial visit and after 6 months. Data were analysed using Independent Sample t-test, Paired t-test and Mann-Withney U test. Probing pocket depth in groups I and II showed significant reduction after 6 months(P=0.043,0.003 respectively), but clinical attachment level decreased significantly only in groupI(P=0.013). Alveolar bone height did not show significant differences in both groups after 6 months(P>O.05). Using sodium alendronate for six months was more effective than scaling and root planning (SRP) alone, but this effect was not significant.