Periodontitis is gum disease that destroys the bone supporting your teeth. About half of U.S. adults over 30 have some form of it. Standard treatment includes deep cleanings and sometimes surgery to remove infected tissue, but these approaches don't rebuild lost bone or reverse the disease.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing drugs that block inflammation pathways, regenerative materials that aim to rebuild bone and gum tissue, and antibiotics targeted at the specific bacteria that drive periodontitis. Some studies are looking at whether treating gum disease affects other conditions like diabetes and heart disease, since chronic inflammation connects them.
Bone regeneration
New materials and growth factors aim to regrow the bone lost to periodontitis. Several approaches combine scaffolds with proteins that signal bone cells to rebuild, rather than just stopping further damage.
Targeted antibiotics
Researchers are testing antibiotics delivered directly to gum pockets and identifying which bacteria combinations cause the worst damage. The goal is to disrupt the bacterial community that drives bone loss without affecting the whole mouth.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on how much bone loss you have, how deep the gum pockets are, whether you smoke, and sometimes whether you have diabetes or other health conditions.
What types of trials are currently open
- Regenerative trials — Testing materials, gels, or membranes placed in gum pockets to stimulate bone and tissue regrowth.
- Drug trials — Testing medications that reduce inflammation or target the bacterial infection driving periodontitis.
- Device trials — Testing new tools or laser treatments for removing infected tissue and bacteria from deep gum pockets.
- Prevention trials — Testing whether certain rinses, probiotics, or treatments can prevent gum disease from progressing in people with early signs.
- Connection studies — Following people with periodontitis to see how treating gum disease affects diabetes control, heart health, or other conditions.
Recently added Periodontitis trials
Rotary Versus Manual Degranulation in Alveolar Ridge Preservation
After a tooth is taken out, the empty socket needs to heal. Sometimes unhealthy soft tissue (called granulation tissue) is left behind and can slow down healing. This study compares two ways to clean the socket: 1. Manual method: a hand instrument (curette) 2. Rotary method: a small rotating dental bur Both methods are standard in dental practice. The study will see which method is faster, causes less pain, and leads to better bone healing. After cleaning, all patients will receive a routine bone graft to protect the jawbone for a possible future dental implant. The study will measure: * How long (in seconds) it takes to clean the socket * Whether the socket is completely clean, checked with a harmless blue stain (Toluidine Blue) * Changes in the bone at 3 and 6 months, measured by a special three-dimensional X-ray (cone-beam computed tomography, CBCT) * Pain and swelling reported by patients in the first week after the procedure * Any side effects or healing problems Patients are randomly assigned to one of the two cleaning methods (like flipping a coin). The surgeon knows which method is used, but the person analyzing the X-rays does not, to keep the results fair. The study will include 58-60 adult patients who need a tooth removed because of a long-term infection at the root. It is being conducted at the College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
The Effect of Different Intra-canal Medications on Postoperative Pain
The aim of this study is to assess the effect of ibuprofen, nitrofurantoin, and calcium hydroxide on postoperative pain after endodontic treatment of necrotic mandibular posterior teeth Research question/hypothesis: In patients with necrotic pulps in their mandibular posterior teeth, there would be no difference in the incidence and/or severity of postoperative pain after the use of ibuprofen, nitrofurantoin, or calcium hydroxide intracanal medications. The study will evaluate postoperative pain after using either of the tested drugs as an intracanal medication amidst visits. of endodontic treatment in cases where pulp necrosis is confirmed.
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