Periodontics - Treating Gum Disease
Confront your periodontal (gum) disease. Gum disease is caused by bacteria below the gumline. It's the #1 cause of adult tooth loss in the United States. Even so, many people are tempted to ignore their dental professional's advice to treat gum disease in its early stages. You have a choice. Do more now, or allow the disease to progress further. Left untreated, gum disease may lead to more serious problems that may require painful and expensive surgery. In combination with scaling and root planing (SRP), your dentist can apply ARESTIN® to help treat your moderate to severe gum disease.
How gum infections happen
Periodontal (gum) disease is very common. Everyone's mouth contains bacteria that cause gum disease. That's why it's the most common chronic bacterial infection in adults. In fact, the majority of adults in the United States have it. With regular checkups and good daily oral hygiene, it's possible to keep this infection under control. Since early gum disease symptoms are often mild, many people are not aware of their condition until it becomes more serious.
Plaque is the root of the problem
Over time, a film (plaque) builds up on your teeth. A major cause of tooth decay, plaque is a sticky substance made of bacteria, mucus, and food on the exposed parts of your teeth. Over time, plaque can harden and become trapped at the base of the tooth.
A buildup can lead to gum infection
Once plaque hardens on your teeth, it's known as tartar or calculus. Plaque and tartar can harm your gums if they are not removed. This can lead to inflamed and infected gums, also known as gingivitis.
Left untreated, gum disease may progress
The infection can create deep pockets (spaces) or cause your gums to recede or pull back. This exposes the roots of your teeth and allows bacteria to grow below the gumline. Over time, the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may need to be removed.
Periodontal (gum) disease treatment
Scaling and root planing (SRP) leaves some bacteria behind
SRP is an effective gum disease treatment. In this procedure, your dental professional will clean plaque and tartar from your teeth and roots. SRP can remove much of the plaque below your gumline. This is where bacteria produce toxins that irritate your gums and cause gum infections. But SRP alone isn't enough to get all bacteria behind gum disease.
ARESTIN® is a locally administered antibiotic treatment for gum disease. It's a powder composed of 100,000 tiny microspheres that release antibiotics over time. In a single visit, your dentist will add ARESTIN® to the pocket between your gum and tooth. It's a painless procedure, and ARESTIN® with SRP can make your gum disease treatment more effective by killing bacteria left behind after SRP. Best of all, ARESTIN® keeps working long after you leave the dental chair.
ARESTIN® makes scaling and root planing (SRP) more effective. Confront your gum disease with an antibiotic treatment. If you have periodontal (gum) disease, SRP is needed to help improve the health of your teeth and gums. Bacteria are the cause of gum disease. That's why your dental professional may recommend ARESTIN®. It is an antibiotic that helps kill bacteria at the root of the problem.
ARESTIN® with SRP is more effective than SRP alone Your dentist places ARESTIN® in the pockets below your gumline. This may happen at the time of SRP or on a follow-up visit. You may also receive ARESTIN® during routine periodontal maintenance. Getting treatment is easy. Your dentist will place these microspheres into infected areas after completing SRP. ARESTIN® will dissolve on its own, so no removal is required. ARESTIN® is different from antibiotic pills ARESTIN® is different from an antibiotic you take as a pill, because it's placed right where you need it. A pill can't give you the level of antibiotic concentration in your gums that ARESTIN® can.
