Flurbiprofen treatment of human periodontitis: effect on alveolar bone height and metabolism

The effect of the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, flurbiprofen, in reducing periodontal disease activity was assessed in 15 patients with periodontitis. Eight patients received 50 mg flurbiprofen b.i.d. for 2 months, and 7 patients received placebo in this double‐blind study. Alveolar bone height was determined using standardized radiography and alveolar bone metabolism was assessed using 99m‐Tc‐uptake prior to dosing and 2 months later. Radiopharmaceutical uptake was significantly reduced in the alveolar bone of teeth undergoing active bone loss at the start of the study in patients receiving flurbiprofen (p<.04), whereas no significant change was observed in the placebo‐treated patients. There was significantly less bone loss during the 2‐month study period in the flurbiprofen‐treated patients when compared to the placebo‐treated patients (p< .02). These results indicate that flurbiprofen administration may affect bone metabolism and reduce bone loss in patients with periodontitis.