Microbiological and clinical effects of surgery plus doxycycline on juvenile periodontitis.

It was previously determined that surgery plus the antibiotic doxycycline were effective in eliminating or suppressing Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), an organism strongly associated with disease in localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP). Eight patients with LJP participated in this surgical study. Patients were reexamined three and 12 months following therapy. The results of this study strongly suggest that surgery plus doxycycline effectively eliminate Aa from periodontal pockets. This elimination results in clinical improvement and attachment gain at three and 12 months following surgery. Further destruction was seen in individuals who continued to harbor high levels of Aa.