Subantimicrobial Dose Doxycycline in Treatment of Periodontitis

Abstract

Host inflammatory response to periodontal pathogens is double edge sword. It aims at limiting disease progression, but maximum amount of destruction in periodontal disease is attributed to host response to periodontal pathogens. Host modulation therapy (HMT) has potential to modulate and reduce the amount of periodontal tissue destruction by ameliorating excessive or pathologically elevated inflammatory processes. Various drugs have been evaluated for modulating host response. However, subantimicrobial dose doxycyline (SDD) is only drug approved for use in periodontitis. In this review, use of SDD in treatment of periodontitis is discussed.