Periodontal disease
Inserting the powder

Arestin

As part of our therapy for periodontal disease, we have an effective treatment called Arestin that helps us control the infection in your mouth.

How is Arestin used?

Arestin is used together with scaling and root planing to significantly reduce the depth of the infected pockets and prevent the progression of the disease.

Arestin is an antibiotic in powder form. After scaling and root planing, we apply the powder to your periodontal pockets, where it combines with moisture in your mouth and adheres immediately to the infected gum tissue.

The individual powder particles release a controlled, steady flow of the active ingredient, minocycline, a potent antibiotic. The medication helps fight your periodontal infection for at least 21 days.

Arestin and your periodontal therapy

In certain conditions, Arestin may not be the right treatment for you. The active ingredient in Arestin is in the tetracycline family, so we won't use it for patients who are allergic to tetracycline, pregnant or nursing, or under the age of eight.

You should also know that Arestin is not a cure for periodontal disease. Once bone is lost, no medication will bring it back. For periodontal therapy to be successful, you'll still need to be very thorough with your daily oral hygiene and come see us regularly for exams.

Arestin is an important part of the overall periodontal therapy program that we have designed for you to restore health to your gums.

Periodontal disease
PerioChip
Releasing the medication

PerioChip

As part of our therapy for periodontal disease, we have an effective treatment that helps us control the infection in your mouth. It's called PerioChip.

How is PerioChip used?

PerioChip is a small biodegradable gelatin chip that contains the antimicrobial agent chlorhexidine.

To administer PerioChip, we first remove plaque and bacterial toxins from the infected area with a scaling and root planing procedure. Then we place PerioChip on the affected gum tissues. It slowly disintegrates, releasing the medication, first in a larger concentration, then at a controlled rate for the duration of the treatment. This medication greatly reduces the bacteria in the infected pocket and speeds the healing process.

PerioChip and your periodontal therapy

Depending on your needs, we may place up to eight PerioChips during a single office visit, and we can repeat PerioChip treatment about every three to six months for as long as periodontal pockets are 5 millimeters deep or more.

However, PerioChip is not an option for you if you are sensitive to chlorhexidine.

It's also important to know that PerioChip is not a cure for periodontal disease and cannot replace supportive bone lost due to periodontal disease. And even with medication, you'll still need to be very thorough with your daily oral hygiene and come to see us regularly for exams and professional cleanings.

PerioChip has been shown to be a safe and effective tool we can use as part of your periodontal therapy to prevent the further destruction of bone and connective tissue caused by periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease
Periostat
Preventing periodontal disease

Periostat

When we are working to control your periodontal disease, we can prescribe an effective medication called Periostat.

How is Periostat used?

In periodontal disease, the body's immune system produces enzymes that destroy the bone and fibers that hold teeth and gums firmly in place. The active ingredient in Periostat, doxycycline hyclate, blocks the action of these enzymes.

Periostat is a medication in pill form. We usually prescribe it for a number of months, and we'll give you specific instructions about how and when to take the medication.

Periostat and your periodontal therapy

There are some cases in which Periostat may not be an option. The active ingredient in Periostat is in the tetracycline family, so we won't use it if you are allergic to tetracycline, pregnant or nursing, or under the age of eight. If you're taking other medications, let us know, so we can confirm that Periostat is right for you.

Periostat works most effectively when it's used in combination with scaling and root planing procedures. Periostat is not a cure for periodontal disease. Once bone is lost, no medication will bring it back. You'll still need to be very thorough with your daily oral hygiene and come see us regularly for exams.

Periostat is an important medicine that we can prescribe to help stop the ongoing damage caused by periodontal disease.

Scaling
Root planing depth
Several appointments are needed

Scaling and Root Planing

Why do I need scaling and root planing?

The goal of scaling and root planing is to eliminate the source of periodontal infection by removing the plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins from the root surfaces of the teeth below the gumline.

When you have active periodontal disease, routine cleanings are not enough because they generally remove plaque and tartar from above the gumline only.

The procedure

To keep you comfortable, we usually numb the area before root planing begins. Using specialized instruments, we carefully and meticulously remove the plaque and tartar around and beneath the gumline, and then smooth the root surfaces. This removes the source of infection and helps your gums heal. As they heal, your gums will tighten around your teeth.

We may schedule scaling and root planing over several appointments. This way we can promote your comfort, check the healing, and help you fine-tune your homecare efforts.

The ultrasonic scaler
Signs of periodontal disease
More efficient removal
of plaque and tartar

Ultrasonic Scaling

What is ultrasonic scaling?

Ultrasonic scaling is one of the most effective procedures for treating periodontal disease.

An ultrasonic scaler consists of a wand with a small scaling tip that produces a soft ultrasonic vibration. The small quick vibrations in combination with a gentle water flow thoroughly removes tartar, while decreasing the number of destructive bacteria below the gumline.

What is periodontal disease?

Removing tartar and bacteria are crucial to controlling periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, an infection of the teeth, gums, and the bone that surround the teeth, begins when plaque, the sticky film of food and bacteria, builds up. If the plaque is not removed, it hardens into tartar. The buildup of plaque and tartar dramatically increases the number of harmful bacteria in your mouth, and can result in deepening spaces between the tooth and gum, called pockets.

The bacteria also trigger your body's immune system to produce enzymes that destroy the bone around your teeth, which can ultimately lead to tooth loss.

The benefits of ultrasonic scaling

Ultrasonic scaling has many benefits over using hand scaling alone. These include:

• More efficient removal of plaque and tartar
• Less need for hand removal of stubborn deposits
• Greater comfort for you