Periodontitis is a serious gum disease which, if left untreated, could cause tooth loss. It is a treatable disease when addressed early enough. The antibiotic Arestin has been shown to be very effective in the treatment of periodontitis.
What is Arestin?
Arestin is a concentrated broad-spectrum antibiotic used to stop the spread of the bacteria that cause gum disease. It is applied directly to the gums and teeth. The antibiotic is carried to the tooth and gum surface by way of microspheres. When Arestin is applied, the microspheres adhere to the gums and teeth where the antibiotic is constantly released for up to two weeks. The microspheres completely resorb over time as the antibiotic is diffused into the tissues to fight of bacteria.
The Mechanical Side of Fighting Periodontitis
Gum disease degrades the gum tissue and bone affected by infection. In treating periodontitis, the affected teeth are scaled with special instruments to clean off the plaque and tartar build up. Once that has been removed, the tooth roots are then made smooth again with planing. This allows the gums to reattach to the tooth.
Because of the structure of the bone around the tooth and the makeup of the gum tissue, the bacteria that cause the gum disease cannot be completely removed. They can rapidly proliferate even in areas that have been thoroughly cleaned. When Arestin is used in conjunction with scaling and planing, the bacteria that escaped the mechanical cleaning of the area are killed by the action of the antibiotic.
Better Results with Arestin
Periodontitis produces deep pockets between the teeth and gums. Bacteria grow rapidly and as the body’s immune system does what it can to combat the disease toxins are released which in turn cause the bone to dissolve and the gum tissue to degrade.
Cleaning these areas is vital to stopping the disease; however, when periodontitis has advanced to a certain stage, mechanical cleaning can only do so much. It is only a matter of days before the bacteria begin to thrive once again unless antibiotics, such as Arestin, are used to stop them completely.
Oral antibiotics may help; however, the direct application of Arestin kills the bacteria and creates an environment which allows healing to take place faster. The pockets grow smaller as the gums adhere to the tooth once again and oral health is restored.
If you have swollen or puffy gums that bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, you may have gum disease. Schedule an appointment with the dentist at Waller Dental. Don’t let gum disease cause you to lose your teeth. Make that call now.