How ARESTIN® can help treat Gum Disease
How ARESTIN® can help treat the infection
Harmful Bacteria Have Infected Your Gums. ARESTIN® can help treat the infection - and we'll provide tips for getting the best results.
Periodontal bacteria have been infecting your foundation.
Your gums are an important foundation for your teeth and provide stability for all of your dental work-so it's important to keep them healthy. However, your dental professional identified a chronic bacterial infection in your gums known as periodontal disease (gum disease).
Important fads about periodontal disease
- Periodontal disease is the #1 cause of adult tooth loss in the United States.
- This silent infection occurs when harmful bacteria travel beneath the gum line and create "pockets"-spaces or gaps in the gums around the teeth.
- If left untreated, periodontal bacteria can lead to bone and tooth loss that threatens your foundation. Infected periodontal pockets are usually 4 or more millimeters (mm) in depth.
Infected areas in your gums
One or more infected pockets inside your gums have been identified. These infected areas require treatment before periodontal disease causes further damage.
The role of your dental healthcare team
The good news is that there are effective treatments available for periodontal disease. Your dental healthcare team-which typically includes your dentist, your hygienist, and sometimes your periodontist-chooses the most effective method of treatment for your infection and is dedicated to helping you fight periodontal disease.
The treatment your dental healthcare team selects is designed to:
- Reduce the bacteria causing your infection
- Shrink the size of your periodontal pockets
- Manage your infection to stop it from spreading or becoming more severe
Treatment with scaling and root planing (SRP)
To treat periodontal disease, dental professionals use a common deep-cleaning procedure known as SRP.
- Scaling removes plaque, tartar, and stains from the surface of teeth
- Planing smoothes the rough areas on the roots of teeth to promote healing
SRP is an effective way to remove the bacteria that form plaque and cause infection.
Give your gums a fighting chance
Even though SRP removes a great deal of the bacteria that cause periodontal infection, the instruments used during this mechanical procedure can't always reach the bacteria that hide in the bottom of pockets or in difficult-to-reach areas.
That's why a dental healthcare team often decides to add a locally administered antibiotic (LAA) such as ARESTIN®.
Adding ARESTlN® (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg
ARESTIN® is a small amount of antibiotic powder that is easily applied by a dental professional.
Clinical studies show that ARESTIN® + SRP is more effective at shrinking the size of infected periodontal pockets than SRP alone
ARESTIN® remains in the pocket for at least 14 days-to help ensure continued treatment
ARESTIN® is safe and easy for your dental professional to administer
6 tips to remember after treatment with ARESTIN®
To help make sure you get the maximum results from your treatment, you should follow a few simple steps . after your treatment with ARESTIN®.
- Don't touch. Avoid touching areas of your gums that your dentist has treated.
- Wait to brush. Wait 12 hours after your treatment with ARESTIN® before brushing your teeth.
- Wait to floss. Do not floss or use toothpicks or any other devices that clean between your teeth for at least 10 days.
- Avoid eating hard, crunchy, or sticky foods for 1 week after treatment.
- Always follow up. Because the bacteria that cause periodontal disease are persistent, the infection can return. please be sure to make follow-up appointments with your dental professional to maintain healthy gums and teeth.
- Keep your scheduled appointments. It is important to keep all of your dental appointments so that your dental professional can re-examine your gums, make sure the infection is under control, and measure the success of your treatment.