[The use of antibiotics in periodontics. A review of the literature].

Since periodontal diseases are mainly of bacterial origin, the use of antibiotics could seem justified for their treatment. Numerous studies, however, have shown that these drugs are not a first choice treatment for acute and chronic periodontitis. Chemotherapy can represent a valuable adjunct to routine mechanical debridement, particularly for adult recurrent periodontitis, juvenile periodontitis and rapidly progressive periodontitis.