Effectiveness of chlorhexidine and essential oils associated with scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis

Introduction: Adjunctive treatment for periodontal disease is quite varied and depends on many factors. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of 0.12% chlorhexidine and essential oils associated with scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Material and methods: The sample included 42 patients randomly assigned to three groups. Decrease in periodontal status was measured with the World Health Organization’s periodontal probe by analyzing probe depth values ​and level of clinical insertion at 3, 4, and 5 months. Statistical analysis of the progress of the three therapies was conducted using Student’s t, Anova, and Tukey tests with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The obtained values demonstrated that 0.12% chlorhexidine is more effective in all of its follow ups, whereas no significant difference existed between essential oils and the control group. A significant difference was observed over time in each separate treatment. Conclusion: Chlorhexidine at a 0.12% concentration associated with root scaling and planing is better than essential oil therapies for the treatment of chronic periodontitis.