Periodontal Disease

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a degenerative condition primarily caused by bacteria found in plaque. The bacteria inflame and infect the gum tissues, and when left untreated, the gums can eventually begin to pull away from the teeth. Untreated periodontal disease can result in bone loss, tooth loss and gum tissue recession. This is why periodontal treatment is very important because it can prevent further tooth loss and decay.

  • Our mouths are full of bacteria. These bacteria, along with mucus and other particles, constantly form a sticky, colorless “plaque” on teeth. Brushing and flossing helps get rid of plaque. Plaque that is not removed can harden and form “tartar” that brushing doesn’t clean. Only a professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar.

  • There are a number of risk factors for gum disease, but smoking is the most significant. Smoking also can make treatment for gum disease less successful. Other risk factors include diabetes; hormonal changes in girls and women; diabetes; medications that lessen the flow of saliva; certain illnesses, such as AIDS, and their medications; and genetic susceptibility.

  • Symptoms of gum disease include:

    • Bad breath that won’t go away

    • Red or swollen gums

    • Tender or bleeding gums

    • Painful chewing

    • Loose teeth

    • Sensitive teeth

    • Receding gums or longer appearing teeth

  • At a dental visit, a dentist or dental hygienist will:

    • Examine your gums and note any signs of inflammation.

    • Use a tiny ruler called a “probe” to check for and measure any pockets around the teeth. In a healthy mouth, the depth of these pockets is usually between 1 and 3 millimeters. This test for pocket depth is usually painless

    • Ask about your medical history to identify conditions or risk factors (such as smoking or diabetes) that may contribute to gum disease.

    The dental professional may also:

    • Take an x-ray to see whether there is any bone loss.

  • The main goal of treatment is to control the infection. The number and types of treatment will vary, depending on the extent of the gum disease. Any type of treatment requires that the patient keep up good daily care at home. The dentist may also suggest changing certain behaviors, such as quitting smoking, as a way to improve your treatment results.

  • You can keep your gums and teeth healthy by:

    • Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste

    • Flossing regularly to remove plaque from between teeth. Or, you can use a device such as a special brush, wooden or plastic pick, or a “water flosser” recommended by a dental professional

    • Visiting the dentist routinely for a check-up and professional cleaning

    • Quitting smoking

Arestin (minocycline)

Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria. We use a powerful antimicrobial in combination with scaling and rooting procedures to help improve your health.

  • ARESTIN (minocycline HCl) Microspheres, 1 mg is an antibiotic that is placed directly into infected gum pockets after a scaling and root planing (SRP) procedure by a dental professional.

    Unlike most antibiotic pills that you take orally, ARESTIN is applied locally, delivering the antibiotic at the infected site. ARESTIN can reached deeper in the infected gum pockets that a SRP alone cannot reach. Once the medication is delivered to the site, the microspheres release the antibiotic over time, fighting bacteria longer than SRP alone. To give our patients the best chance of fighting Periodontal Disease, we recommend using ARESTIN as an adjunct with your SRP procedures unless contraindicated.

    ARESTIN is contraindicated for patients who are allergic to minocycline or tetracyclines.

  • Studies showed that it reduced pocket depths by over 40%, reduced harmful bacteria more than 2x, and reduced gum bleeding by 2x during normal exams, when paired with deep cleanings.

    Other benefits of ARESTIN is that it is applied locally, painless, works immediately, affordable, doesn’t require needles, and it offers a non-surgical solution to patients battling periodontal disease.

  • Fighting gum disease takes time, and at first you may think there’s no improvement. But your dental professional often can see change long before you do. That’s why it’s important to keep up with your appointments and treatment for infected gums.

    Signs of improvement:

    • Pockets that are less deep than at your last visit

    • Pockets that have not gotten any deeper

    • No new deep pockets have formed

    • Less bleeding when gums are touched

    • Gum tissue attaching around a tooth more snugly

    • Teeth not as loose as before

    • No new loose teeth