Scientists in India have found that diabetes patients who use alendronate gel to help treat their periodontitis, in research that it is hoped will lead to a better chance of improving the periodontal health of people with type 2 diabetes.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Periodontology, involved 43 patients with type 2 diabetes, revealed that putting 1% alendronate gel into periodontal pockets in the mouth can offer benefits to such patients. Alendronate, which is a bisphosphonate developed by pharma giant Merck and sold under the brand name Fosamax, is taken as an oral medication for treating osteoporosis.
The study probed depths of more than 5mm or periodontal attachment levels over 4mm and vertical bone loss over 3mm in the participants, who had no history of periodontal therapy or had used antibiotics during the previous six months. The gel was injected into the periodontal pockets with intrabony defects. The improvement in probing depth was shown to be better in the group that had received the alendronate injection than in a placebo group.
Lead author of the study, A.R. Pradeep, said “This can provide a new direction in the field of periodontal regeneration in this special group of patients who are greater risk for periodontal destruction.” The researchers have recommended a long-term trialling to look into their approach further.

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