Efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound as an adjunct to periodontal therapy in cats with early-stage periodontal disease.

Therapeutic ultrasound enhances early periodontal disease treatment in cats, improving clinical parameters.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated therapeutic ultrasound (TU) as an adjunctive treatment for feline early-stage periodontal disease. Twenty-one cats with AVDC stage 1-2 disease were assigned to three groups: chlorhexidine alone (CLX), TU alone, or combined therapy (CLX+TU), following professional scaling. Treatment occurred daily for seven days with periodontal parameters assessed at baseline and day 8. Both TU and CLX+TU groups demonstrated significantly greater improvements in probing pocket depth, gingival index, and plaque index compared to CLX monotherapy. Notably, gingival surface temperature decreased substantially in TU-treated groups but remained unchanged with CLX alone, suggesting reduced inflammatory response. Cytokine concentrations and pain scores showed no significant differences between groups. The findings support TU as a practical, non-invasive adjunct to conventional periodontal therapy in cats, enhancing short-term clinical outcomes and reducing gingival inflammation markers. However, the study's small sample size and short follow-up period limit generalizability and long-term efficacy assessment.

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