local antibiotics
Last reviewed 01/2018
The theory behind the use of local antibiotics for periodontal disease is that a sustained, high concentration of antibiotic is attained at the required site with few systemic effects. Antibiotic gels are an example of a local agent; they are introduced with a syringe directly into the pocket of disease.
Examples of commercially-available preparations include Minocycline gel and Metronidazole gel. There is no clear evidence that either of these agents is better than conventional debridement alone for shallow areas of inflammation.