When healthy, your bone and gum tissue are tightly attached to the roots of your teeth. When you have periodontal disease, a serious chronic bacterial infection, this attachment is destroyed, forming "pockets" around your teeth. Over time, these pockets become deeper, providing a more substantial environment in which bacteria can live. If left untreated, periodontal pocketing will lead to the loss of the supporting bone.

In recent years, certain studies have indicated that irrigation of the gum pocket with antibiotics in combination with scaling and root planing, a non-surgical procedure that involves deep cleaning above and below the gum line, may offer an improved method of combating periodontal disease and shrinking the pockets to maintainable levels.

While there are several antibiotic treatments that have been thoroughly tested and approved, two of the more interesting ones are Periostat^® and Arestin^®.

Periostat^®
Administered as a pill, Periostatworks by suppressing collagenase, and enzyme that destroys gum tissues.

Arestin^®
Administered as a powder, Arestin utilizes microspheres, tiny microscopic beads of many different sizes, to deliver minocycline, a potent antibiotic, painlessly under the gum.

Please feel free to contact us regarding any questions about these adjunct therapies for periodontal disease.

Back to... Services List »