Periodontal Therapy

Some cases of acute periodontal (gum) disease that do not respond to more conventional treatment and self-care such as flossing may require a special kind of cleaning called scaling and root planing.

The procedure begins with administration of a local anesthetic to reduce any discomfort. Then, a small instrument called a "scaler," or an ultrasonic cleaner, is used to clean beneath your gum line to remove plaque and tartar.

The root surfaces on the tooth are then planed and smoothed. If effective, scaling and root planing helps the gums reattach themselves to the tooth structure.  Additional measures may be needed if the periodontal pockets persist after scaling and root planing.


Learn how ARESTIN ® makes scaling and root planing (SRP) more effective

If you have periodontal (gum) disease, SRP is needed to help improve the health of your teeth and gums. Bacteria are the cause of gum disease. That's why your dental professional may recommend ARESTIN ® . It is an antibiotic that helps kill the bacteria at the root of the problem.

ARESTIN ® contains microspheres—tiny, bead-like particles—that are smaller than grains of sand and are not visible to the eye. The microspheres are filled with the antibiotic minocycline hydrochloride. These microspheres release the antibiotic over time, killing bacteria so your gums can heal better than with SRP alone.

ARESTIN ® with SRP is nearly 3x more likely to result in successful treatment than SRP alone.  ARESTIN ® is placed in the infected gum pockets below your gumline. This may happen at the time of SRP or on a follow-up visit. You may also receive ARESTIN ® during routine periodontal maintenance.  The antibiotic will dissolve on its own, so no removal is required.

ARESTIN ® is different from an antibiotic you take as a pill, because it's placed right where you need it. A pill can't give you the level of antibiotic concentration in your gums that ARESTIN ® can.


Pockets increase in depth

Your dentist and hygienist will measure the size of those pockets using a tiny probe. A pocket of 4 or more millimeters is a sign that you have gum disease. If you wait to treat your gum disease, you may need painful and expensive surgery or lose teeth in the future

Contact Us

Office Hours

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-2:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-3:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed