In a clinical study,
ARESTIN & Scaling and Root Planing (SRP)
reduced harmful bacteria by nearly 2x as much as SRP alone.1,2*
Periodontitis is a chronic bacterial infection caused by microbial plaque, also called dental biofilm, that colonizes on the tooth’s surface and below the gingival margin.
When dental biofilm irritates the gums, it breaks down the tissue and bone supporting the teeth. If left untreated, periodontitis can increase periodontal pocket depth and bleeding on probing, and may lead to the spread of active infection to healthy sites.
Scaling and root planing in conjunction with Arestin® treatments, is a wonderful place to begin treatment to resolve periodontitis and can help to sustain a healthier balance of bacteria.Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning below the gumline used to remove plaque and tartar from below the gumline and to smooth the tooth roots to help the gums reattach to the tooth. Antibiotics, in the form of Arestin® application sites, is a powder that we place directly into infected areas or pockets in your gums can help reduce the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease. ARESTIN powder contains 100,000 tiny microspheres, invisible to the eye. These microsphores contain the antibiotic drug minocycline, which is released over time into the infected pocket. This means ARESTIN keeps fighting disease – causing bacteria after you’ve left the dental chair. As with other bacterial infections, consider the antibiotic as part of treatment.
This treatment regimen can:
- Significantly reduce the size of pockets, compared with “deep cleaning (SRP) alone
- Kills the bacteria most commonly associated with periodontal disease
If you have a history of periodontal disease or would like more information about Arestin® as part of your treatment regimen, please give us a call at the office to discuss further.
1. Goodson JM, Gunsolley JC, Grossi SG, et al. Minocycline HCl microspheres reduce red-complex bacteria in periodontal disease therapy. J Periodontol. 2007;78(8):1568-1579. 2. Grossi SG, Goodson JM, Gunsolley JC, et al. Mechanical therapy with adjunctive minocycline microspheres reduces red-complex bacteria in smokers. J Periodontol. 2007;78(9):1741-1750 3. Socransky SS, Haffajee AD, Cugini MA, Smith C, Kent RL. Microbial complexes in subgingival plaque. J Clin Periodontol. 1998;25:134-144. 4. Socransky SS, Haffajee AD. Dental biofilms: difficult therapeutic targets. Periodontol 2000. 2002;28:12-55. 5. Page RC. Periodontal diseases: a new paradigm. J Dent Educ. 1998;62(10):812-821. 6. Goodson JM, Gunsolley JC, Grossi SG, et al. Minocycline HCl microspheres reduce red-complex bacteria in periodontal disease therapy. J Periodontol. 2007;78(8):1568-1579. 7. Williams RC. Medical progress: periodontal disease. N Engl J Med. 1990;322(6):373-382.