Adjunctive Treatment

Arestin

Arestin is an antibiotic treatment placed inside infected periodontal pockets to help reduce and sometimes eliminate the infection.

Arestin contains "Microspheres," which are 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, and they release the drug over time into the infected periodontal pocket, killing bacteria that live there. Arestin Microspheres continue to fight the infection for up to 21 days after placement.

The Perioscope

This cutting edge technology offers an innovative opportunity for the non-surgical assessment of dental and periodontal conditions.

The perioscope is an endoscope specifically designed to aid in the exploration of the space underneath the gum line. By guiding a (tiny) camera on a narrowly tipped instrument into the space between the gum and the root surface of the tooth, a picture of the periodontal pocket and root surface is generated.

Perioscopy is a non-invasive alternative for isolated defects. It does not replace surgical therapy.

Tetra

Periodontal maintenance along with good homecare helps us keep the periodontium as healthy as possible. However, on occasion, episodes of breakdown may occur for medium to high-risk patients.

Your dental hygienists monitor this closely. If breakdown is noted, your doctor my recommend our tetracycline program. This is a conservative way of treating these cyclic breakdowns. A combination of antibiotic (tetracycline) therapy and periodontal therapy (scaling/debridement) is used.

The need for this treatment is evaluated on an individual basis.