Chemotherapeutics Introduction and Overview Chemotherapy involves treatment with a drug or chemical agent. Chemotherapy is classified depending of the way the drug is delivered. Systemic antibiotics show a parabolic response with peak concentrations 2-3 hours after oral administration. This system theoretically reaches all periodontal pockets. The majority of the agent concentrates in serum.
Systemic antibiotics require repeated doses and patient compliance.
The topical delivery system involves oral rinses, dentrifices and gels. They show an exponential concentration profile, where drug levels decline exponentially and rapidly. Serum and gingival crevicular fluid levels are undetectable. Drug sustantivity may further enhance any sustained effect. One disadvantage of this system is that it fails to reach the base of the periodontal pocket.