[The concentration and duration of the action of metronidazole in the gingival pocket following local application]

Periodontitis is a locally limited disease caused by bacteria. The local application presents itself useful for the indicated medicamentous therapy of periodontitis by means of metronidazole. In preliminary tests the metronidazole liberation from hollow fibres, in gel and from polyvinyl alcohol platelets has been tested by ultraviolet absorption measurement. The hollow fibres have been evaluated no more because of too small agent absorption in the clinical test. In polyvinyl alcohol metronidazole acts definitely over 3 days. However, the prolonged action in the gel form is not definitely (45 min to 24 h). A single one or repeated twice metronidazole/polyvinyl alcohol platelet application results in a sufficient long and high metronidazole concentration in the gingival pocket.