A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of chronic periodontitis patients showed that treatment with Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis as an adjunct to standard treatment significantly improved efficacy by 53 per cent.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis as an adjunct to scaling and root planing, which is the standard treatment, in chronic periodontitis patients.
By the end of the 12 week long study 53 per cent fewer sites (surfaces on a teeth) in patients with deep dental pockets and supplemented by Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis was in need for surgery, compared to the placebo group (p < 0.019). A site was considered as in need for surgery if the pocket depth was ≥6 mm or ≥5 mm and bleeding.
After the intervention period it was also concluded that 67 per cent of the patients in the placebo group fell into the high-risk category for disease progression, while the corresponding figure for patients supplemented by Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis was only 27 per cent (p < 0.027). In the published article the authors point out that these figures are comparable to what is reported in different studies using a combination of two different antibiotics as an adjunct to scaling and root planing.
Among the patients with more serious problems there was significantly more pocket depth reduction and attachment gain (p < 0.05) in the group supplemented by Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis compared to corresponding patients in the placebo group. The study, which was published online 15 August 2013 in Journal of Clinical Periodontology, included 30 patients.
"This study is important because it shows that less patients will be in need for surgery and thus both suffering and money for these periodontitis patients could be saved with BioGaia ProDentis. The results will also help us further penetrate dental offices around the world and thereby contribute to the growth of our oral health business", says Peter Rothschild, President, BioGaia.