Abstract: PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefit of valacyclovir when performing full-mouth periodontal debridement in patients with advanced chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with advanced chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned into control-treatment group(n=29) and intensive-treatment group(n=30). All patients were given instructions of basic oral hygiene and a standard cycle of supragingival mechanical scaling and polishing. Patients in the intensive-treatment group received oral valacyclovir for 1 week, while patients in the control-treatment group received placebo. Thereafter, patients in both groups underwent full-mouth intensive removal of subgingival dental plaque biofilms with the use of scaling and root planing within 48 hours. Periodontal parameters were evaluated before treatment and 2 or 6 months after treatment. The data was statistically analyzed using SPSS17.0 software package. RESULTS: No significant difference in clinical parameters was noted before treatment. 2 and 6 months after treatment, the mean percentage reduction of sites with BOP and PD≥4 mm were significantly higher in the intensive-treatment group than in the control-treatment group (P<0.05). Similarly, patients in the intensive-treatment group had higher mean PD reduction than those in the control-treatment group 2 months (P<0.05) and 6 months after therapy (P<0.05). However, the mean values of CAL reduction were slightly and not significantly higher in the intensive-treatment group than in the control-treatment group after therapy. CONCLUSIONS: It may be concluded that valacyclovir significantly improves clinical results of full-mouth non-surgical periodontal debridement in advanced chronic periodontitis.

Key words: Periodontitis, Valacyclovir, Antiviral treatment, Randomized controlled trial