Abstract
Introduction: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition marked by the gradual destruction of tooth-supporting structures. Interleukin-23 (IL-23) plays a central role in the progression of periodontal disease. Thus, this study aimed to assess serum IL-23 levels and periodontal indices following single-stage full-mouth disinfection (FMD) and quadrant scaling and root planing (Q-SRP) in patients with chronic, moderate-to-advanced periodontitis.
Methods: Twenty patients were included in this double-blind trial study and divided into two groups. One group received single-stage FMD, while the other underwent Q-SRP. Periodontal status was assessed by measuring the clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), and the modified gingival index (MGI). Evaluations were performed at baseline and at two- and four-month follow-ups. Moreover, serum IL-23 levels were estimated at the time points using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16.
Results: Mean serum IL-23 levels decreased after both FMD and Q-SRP treatments, with no statistically significant difference between the groups (P>0.05). Periodontal indices, including BOP, CAL, PI, and PD, improved in both groups, again without significant intergroup differences (P>0.05). However, the MGI was significantly lower in the FMD group at 2-month and 4-month follow-ups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Both FMD and Q-SRP effectively enhanced periodontal parameters while reducing serum IL-23 levels, with no significant differences between the two methods for most indices. Overall, although the lower MGI observed in the FMD group suggests a potential advantage in reducing gingival inflammation, the findings indicate that both treatments are similarly effective.