Efficacy of subgingivally delivered atorvastatin and simvastatin as an adjunct to scaling and root planing.

Background: The current understanding of the pathogenesis of periodontal disease has resulted in adjunctive use of various pharmacologic agents in periodontal therapy. The objective of this investigation was to assess the efficacy of atorvastatin and simvastatin (because of their pleiotropic properties) as an adjunct to dental scaling and root planing (SRP) by local delivery, i.e. placing them subgingivally, in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.

Methods: Local delivery systems for atorvastatin and simvastatin were prepared in sodium alginate suspension to be administered with calcium chloride solution. Patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were grouped as group 1, receiving SRP only (control), group 2, receiving SRP with subgingival delivery of 1.2% simvastatin, and group 3, receiving SRP with subgingival delivery of 1.2% atorvastatin. Clinical parameters and interleukin (IL) 1α levels in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were assessed.

Results: All three groups showed significant reductions in clinical parameters and IL-1α levels in the GCF (p<0.05). However, the test groups did not show any statistically significant difference when compared with control.

Conclusions: Subgingivally delivered atorvastatin and simvastatin as an adjunct to SRP is efficacious but did not demonstrate any added benefit as compared with SRP alone.