Periodontal Disease is a chronic infection of the gums and the bones holding your teeth in place, and it affects an estimated 50 million people within the United States.  Symptoms of periodontal disease include swollen gums, bleeding gums, separation of the gum tissue from the tooth (periodontal pocketing), and bone loss.  If left untreated, the gums and bones surrounding the teeth will continue to deteriorate, leading to possible tooth loss. 

Scaling and root planning are the procedures used to remove the plaque build-up and bacteria from the infected areas around the teeth.  In conjunction with these techniques the hygienist will place the antibiotic, Arestin^TM, in the infected gums to promote healing and further treat the disease. Arestin is a small carpal of powder that is administered quickly, easily, and gently.  Our office has witnessed amazing results with this treatment, which include a shrinking of periodontal pocketing by 1-2mm, a reduction of bleeding, and an overall improvement of oral health.

Recent studies clearly illustrate the inherent correlation between systemic and oral health.  In fact, periodontal disease has been linked to multiple health complications including diabetes and heart disease.  Therefore, if you exhibit any one of the aforementioned symptoms please ask your hygienist about periodontal disease and its eradication through scaling, root planning, and Arestin^TM application.