The test group of 18 patients with drug-induced gingival enlargement received scaling, root planing with azithromycin for 5 days, with or without surgical periodontal treatment. The control group of 18 patients who had not taken any medication, received scaling and root planing, with or without surgical periodontal treatment. Both groups received supportive periodontal therapy every 3 months for 2 years. The mean period of total treatment is 32 months in the test group and 31 months in the control group. The thickness of the buccal gingiva was measured using an ultrasonic device of SDM®(Krupp Corp., Essen, Germany).

The results revealed that the test group(1.21±0.51mm) showed statistically thicker buccal gingiva than the control group(1.01±0.3mm). In the test group, the buccal gingiva was thickest on 2nd molars and was thinnest on canines of both dental arches. In the control group, the buccal gingiva was thickest on central incisors in the maxilla and 2nd molars in the mandible, while the thinnest areas were on canines in the maxilla and 1st premolars in the mandible.

It would be concluded that the periodontal treatment with azithromycin aids in decreasing the degree of the gingival enlargement but cannot prevent the recurrence completely.