ARESTIN in Chatham MA

Fighting the infection with a locally administered antibiotics

Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection and, as with any infection, treatment with an antibiotic is common. Dental professionals often add a locally administered antibiotic (LAA) directly to the site of infection where bacteria hide. Many dental professionals choose to add an LAA because:

• LAAs can help reduce deeper pockets after scaling and root planing (SRP).
• Clinical studies prove that SRP is more effective when LAA are added.
• These effective treatments can reduce harmful bacteria before infection spreads and gum disease worsens.

Why do dental professionals and hygienists use ARESTIN Microspheres in addition to scaling and root planing?

ARESTIN is the first locally administered antibiotic with Microspheres that has been proven to be more effective than SRP alone. ARESTIN scaling and root planing significantly reduces pocket depths, kills the bacteria associated with periodontal disease, and decreases bleeding on probing. ARESTIN kills the most common pathogens associated with periodontal disease. And, with its unique Microsphere technology, ARESTIN maintains therapeutic drug concentrations for up to 21 days.

ARESTIN contains minocycline, a tetracycline derivative, and therefore should not be used in children and in pregnant or nursing women. The use of drugs of the of the tetracycline class during tooth development may cause permanent discoloration of the teeth.

Six tips to remember after treatment with ARESTIN

1. Don’t touch. Avoid touching areas of your gums that your dentist or hygienist treated.
2. Wait to brush. Wait 12 hours after your treatment with ARESTIN before brushing your teeth.
3. Wait to floss. Do not floss or use toothpicks or any other flossing aids that clean between your teeth that have been treated for at least 10 days.
4. Avoid eating hard, crunchy, or sticky foods for one week after treatment.
5. 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.
6. 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.