This narrative review focuses on the most recent scientific findings regarding the clinical application of professionally administered local antimicrobial agents (LAs) in periodontal therapy. It examines the currently available drug delivery systems and provides an updated overview of their advantages, drawbacks, and clinical performance in managing periodontal disease. A literature search identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effectiveness of adjunctive LA therapy with conventional mechanical debridement alone. The evidence gathered indicates that integrating local antimicrobial agents with scaling and root debridement (SRD) yields notable improvements in treatment outcomes while minimizing the adverse effects commonly associated with systemic antibiotic administration. Local drug delivery (LDD) thus emerges as a reliable and targeted approach for drug administration in periodontal care. The review advocates for the use of local antimicrobials particularly in cases of localized periodontitis or in specific sites unresponsive to standard mechanical therapy. Overall, this review consolidates current insights into LDD for periodontal management, aiming to assist general practitioners in selecting the most suitable local antimicrobial agents for clinical practice.
