For Americans in their 30s and beyond, the threat of gum disease (periodontal disease) is a very real and potentially dangerous condition. Gum disease is particularly dangerous because the progression of the disease is often painless, going undetected until it creates serious problems.Although genetics may play a small role in its development, doctors agree that gum disease is most often directly related to how well people care for their teeth and gums.

The Stages of Gum Disease

Periodontal disease is a gradual infection of the gums and the supporting bone. It is caused when the build up of plaque on and around the teeth calcifies into tartar. This tartar is covered with plaque that contains micro- organisms which release toxins causing the first stage of gum disease known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is characterized by swelling, inflammation, and bleeding of the gums. In the advanced stage of gum disease (referred to as periodontitis), the toxins cause the bone to resorb or dissolve. The teeth having lost a part of their bone support begin to move & eventually with more bone loss there is tooth loss.

The Surgery

Treatments to alleviate the effects of gum disease include deep cleaning, localized delivery of antibiotics, home care & regular follow up care. The periodontist / Dentist begin by removing the diseased tissue, tartar, and plaque from the tooth’s surface and below the gum line. The root of the tooth may need to be planed and smoothed in order to allow gum tissue to heal properly. The periodontist may also advise bone grafts depending on the amount of bone that is lost due to gum disease.

Prevention

The ravages of gum disease are best prevented by early detection and proper dental hygiene. Brushing your teeth twice a day helps to remove the thin layer of bacteria that release dangerous toxins into your mouth. Flossing or other interdental cleansing is also important to keep your mouth free from residual food and bacteria. Also, using a mouth rinse, prescription or over the counter considerably reduces the microbial count in your saliva. Finally, maintaining a balanced diet and scheduling regular dental appointments help stem the advance of gum disease and keep you healthy and smiling.

Arestin Therapy

This is a non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease. As the name suggests it arrests the progression of periodontal disease when used in conjunction with scaling and root planing (deep cleaning).

ArestinTM is a locally delivered antimicrobial agent which consists of minocycline HCL microspheres. ArestinTM is intended to be used in pockets with a depth of 5 millimeters or greater. It can be used in one or any number of pockets in one or several visits. It is dispensed as a 1 mg powder and is placed directly into a cleaned periodontal pocket using a specialized delivery system. Following placement over the next several hours or days it will harden and stay within the pocket releasing Minocycline over a prescribed period of time (usually about 18 – 20 days), thereby providing the appropriate dose of antibiotic to the site and reducing the bacterial count in the pocket.

Advantages of Arestin Therapy

• Studies have shown that there is a 2 mm reduction in the depth of the pockets when Arestin is used along with scaling and root planing
• Arestin therapy is effective in treating resistant sites which do not respond to cleaning alone such as in patients who are smokers, diabetics and have cardio-vascular disease
• Arestin is very easy to use, it is a safe and effective procedure

Frenectomies

Frenectomy is a surgery performed to remove a fold from the oral cavity. The fold, medically termed as frenum, is formed from tissues. It may have to be removed when it is restricting the movement of tongue or causing problems in functionality or esthetics of lips. There are basically three types of frenum. There is one that connects the gums in between the two upper teeth to the upper lips. The second connects the gums between two lower teeth to the lower lips. One frenum is under the tongue. When a frenum restricts the movement of tongue or is to tight, there can be a number of problems. Our dentists perform frenectomy to remove the fold and enable better functionality of oral cavity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Would you use an antibiotic to treat periodontal disease?

Even though scaling and root planing (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 your dental professional may decide to add a locally administered antibiotic (LAA) such as ARESTIN®. ARESTIN® helps to kill the bacteria left behind by SRP.

What are the contra-indications to the use of Arestin?

Arestin should not be used if you are allergic to tetracycline or if you are pregnant or nursing as it might cause discoloration of the developing teeth in the fetus.

Can I resume normal brushing and flossing following Arestin Therapy?

Delay brushing the treated area for 12 hours after treatment with ARESTIN® and abstain from using interproximal cleaning devices around the treated area for 10 days. Patients should also avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods such as popcorn or caramel that could traumatize the gingiva.