COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF SUBGINGIVALLY DELIVERED TEA TREE OIL GEL AND 0.2% CHLORHEXIDINE GEL ADJUNCTIVE TO SCALING AND ROOT PLANING IN CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS

Background: Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease leading to periodontal tissue destruction. Traditional treatments, including mechanical debridement and systemic antibiotics, often face limitations. Recent interest has focused on alternative therapies like chlorhexidine and tea tree oil, both known for their antimicrobial properties. This study explores their efficacy in managing periodontitis, aiming to enhance treatment outcomes and offer viable adjunctive options. Material and Methods: In this double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, ten patients with periodontitis underwent scaling and root planing (SRP). In a split-mouth design, one side of the mouth received a subgingival application of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel, while the other side was treated with 5% tea tree oil gel. Clinical parameters, including probing depth and clinical attachment level, were assessed before and after treatment to evaluate the efficacy of each gel in managing periodontal disease Results: The study revealed significant improvements in probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival index (GI), and bleeding on probing (BOP) within each treatment group. However, there were no significant differences between the chlorhexidine and tea tree oil gel treatments. Conclusion: Both 0.2% chlorhexidine gel and 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved clinical parameters of periodontitis, including probing depth, clinical attachment level, gingival index, and bleeding on probing. However, no significant differences were observed between the two treatments, suggesting that tea tree oil gel may be a viable alternative to chlorhexidine in periodontal therapy.