{
  "abstract": "Scaling and root planing (SRP) has limitations in deep periodontal pockets, necessitating adjunctive therapies. Chlorhexidine (CHX) gel and HYBENX® topical desiccant (EPIEN Medical, Inc., St. Paul, USA) represent chemical antisepsis versus physical desiccation, respectively, but no study has directly compared them in Stage III periodontitis. This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of HYBENX® versus 1% CHX gel (Hexigel; ICPA Health Products Ltd., Mumbai, India) as adjuncts to SRP in Stage III periodontitis. The primary outcome was the change in probing depth (PD). Secondary outcomes included clinical attachment level (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP) over three months. This split-mouth, assessor-blinded, randomized trial enrolled 10 patients (100 sites). Following SRP, quadrants received either 1% CHX gel or HYBENX® (60% vinyl polymers, 28% phosphoric acid). The primary outcome was PD, and the sample size was calculated based on this outcome. Secondary outcomes were CAL and BOP. Parameters were recorded at baseline, one month, two months, and three months. Statistical analysis used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni correction (P = 0.0167). Both groups improved significantly at one month (P = 0.002). However, the HYBENX® group showed greater improvements at all time points. At three months, the HYBENX® group demonstrated significantly lower BOP (0.38 ± 0.11 vs. 1.32 ± 0.25, P = 0.002) and CAL (3.68 ± 0.29 vs. 4.28 ± 0.44 mm, P = 0.016), while the difference in PD (3.06 ± 0.35 vs. 3.58 ± 0.37 mm, P = 0.027) did not reach statistical significance after Bonferroni correction (adjusted threshold P < 0.0167), despite a large effect size (r = -0.70). The CHX group showed a gradual loss of initial improvement (BOP regression T1-T3, P = 0.004), while the HYBENX® group maintained stable improvements without regression. These findings should be interpreted with caution given the small sample size and short follow-up. Within the limitations of this pilot trial, HYBENX® showed greater and more sustained clinical improvements compared to CHX gel as an adjunct to SRP in Stage III periodontitis, with stable therapeutic gains over the three-month follow-up. However, given the small sample size and short follow-up, these findings should be considered preliminary and require confirmation in larger, adequately powered trials.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Periodontology, Latakia University, Latakia, SYR."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Malaz Fayad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Hashem Daoud"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/12q2k5yynd7x3.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.7759/cureus.117602",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13743009",
  "id": "12q2k5yynd7x3",
  "issns": [
    "2168-8184"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997833",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3506|Oral microbiology and periodontitis research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220834275",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13743009?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13743009",
  "pmid": "42997833",
  "published": "2026-10-07",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/12q2k5yynd7x3.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T15:20:41Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42997833",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997833"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Comparative Clinical Efficacy of HYBENX® Versus Chlorhexidine Gel as Adjuncts to Scaling and Root Planing: A Split-Mouth Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial.",
  "title_text": "Comparative Clinical Efficacy of HYBENX® Versus Chlorhexidine Gel as Adjuncts to Scaling and Root Planing: A Split-Mouth Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T15:20:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/12q2k5yynd7x3",
  "venue": "Cureus",
  "versions": []
}