Arestin
Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is an inflammatory gum infection caused by oral bacteria. The condition develops through poor oral hygiene, which allows a substance called plaque to accumulate on the teeth and under the gum line. In time, plaque hardens into a material called tartar that is only removable by your dental team during a professional dental cleaning.
You may have gum disease if you have:
- Tender, red, and swollen gums
- Gums that bleed easily
- Persistent bad breath
- Loose or shifting teeth
What is Arestin?
Arestin is an antibiotic medication that eliminates oral bacteria that cause gum disease. If your dentist is treating you using Arestin, they would place it into the gum pockets around your teeth. Pockets are the areas where your gums have receded from your teeth.
If you’re receiving Arestin treatment, your dentist would likely use it following a scaling and root planing treatment. This is a common treatment for gum disease that helps to remove plaque from under the gum line where it can be difficult to clean.
After placement, Arestin immediately goes to work to help eliminate the source of the infection. In fact, Arestin will work for up to 30 days to fight infection.
Product Safety
Arestin is safe and effective for the vast majority of patients. However, you should not use this product if you are allergic to tetracyclines or minocycline.
Why is treating gum disease important?
Gum disease is a very serious infection that inflames gum tissues. It starts with the accumulation of a substance called plaque – a biofilm that sticks to the teeth. The danger of plaque is that it releases acids that can harm your teeth and damage your gums.
Gingivitis is an early form of gum disease that can be reversed if you resume your good oral health habits.
If you do not receive an early diagnosis of gingivitis, and it remains untreated, it will eventually develop into a more serious form of gum disease known as periodontitis. Unfortunately, periodontitis is not reversible, although your dentist can slow or halt its progress when you undergo special periodontal cleaning treatments.
The main risk of gum disease is that it undermines the supporting structures of your teeth. If it progresses long enough, gum disease can even cause teeth to loosen and fall out.
Contact Us
If you want to see for yourself how Arestin can help combat your gum disease, please reach out to us at your earliest convenience to request more information or to schedule an appointment or consultation.