Povidone-iodine may provide small adjunctive benefit to scaling and root planing.

Study Selection Criteria: An electronic search was performed using a priori selection criteria. PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Library were searched. Studies were limited to randomized, controlled trials in which povidone-iodine (PVP-I) was used as an adjunct to conventional SRP in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.

Key Study Factor: The authors reviewed evidence supporting the use of PVP-I as an intrasulcular irrigant during SRP in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.

Main Outcome Measure: Reduction in probing depth was the primary outcome measure.

Main Results: One hundred eighty-six titles resulted from the search. Thirty-two full-text articles were assessed. Twenty-five articles were excluded. The remaining 7 articles were assessed by 2 independent reviewers. One of these studies could not be included in the meta-analysis because of incomplete data reporting. The use of PVP-I resulted in statistically significant additional pocket depth reduction over that achieved by the standard therapy (scaling and root planing). The magnitude of this difference was 0.28 mm (95% CI: 0.08-0.48). This benefit was sustained at 3 months posttreatment (0.23 mm; 95% CI: -0.03 to 0.48).

Conclusions: The use of PVP-I as an adjunct to SRP resulted in a small additional benefit beyond that achieved with SRP alone.