Periodontal Dentistry

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Arestin

ARESTIN® is a prescription antibiotic approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is used together with scaling and root planing (SRP) and is placed by your dentist for the treatment of periodontal (gum) disease.

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 bacteria at the root of the problem. Take your dental professional’s advice—choose ARESTIN®.

Your dentist places ARESTIN® in the 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.

Your dentist will place these microspheres into infected areas after completing SRP. ARESTIN® 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.

ARESTIN® contains microspheres—tiny 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.

CariFree

CariFree: Despite what we’ve been told and taught, brushing, flossing and regular dental checkups may not be enough to prevent cavities. New discoveries show that a bacterial infection on the teeth may be the cause of tooth decay and cavity development.

This new science, called the CariFree system, is affecting how Dr. Mallonee is assessing her clients’ dental treatment plans. Instead of simply treating symptoms by filling cavities, Dr. Mallonee is performing a quick, non-invasive CariFree test to determine the pH level of the mouth. If the patient’s mouth falls into the acidic range, it is treated to get it back to a neutral range to prevent the potential development of cavities. A one-minute swab test determines whether a patient has a low, moderate or high risk of developing cavities in the future.

Should the patient’s test suggest a moderate to high risk of cavities caused by cariogenic biofilm, a CariFree treatment plan may be prescribed. The treatment consists of using a series of antibacterial mouth rinses to reduce the bacterial levels on the teeth, giving the patient a better chance of avoiding future dental decay. It’s that simple. No antibiotic prescription, just swishing with mouth rinses.

The two-part treatment rinse kills harmful, destructive bacteria on the teeth. It has an elevated pH level that is designed to offset the acidic condition of the infection.

The maintenance rinse prevents the destructive bacteria from reestablishing. It also has an elevated pH level, which promotes a healthy oral environment.

CariFree is a proactive method for cavity prevention. Most people don’t know that acid-producing bacteria are genetic, so you can take very good care of your teeth, and it still won’t stop the cavities. You need to reverse the affects of the bad bacteria.

Ideal for patients who:

  • Have cavities or who have had cavities within the last 3 years.
  • Have been assessed to be “at risk”, with one or more risk factors identified.
  • Have gum disease.
  • Have bad breath.
  • Suffer from mouth thrush.
  • Improves the health of soft tissue.