One of the options our dentists may recommend for treating gum disease is infection control through antibiotics. This periodontal treatment only takes a few minutes to complete, and is often combined with other types of treatment to produce the best results. Best of all, it continues to work long after you have left Park Central Dental and returned to your regular daily life.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease is caused by the presence of harmful bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria accumulate as a sticky film known as plaque, and if not removed through regular and effective oral hygiene will harden into calculus and infect and inflame the gums. If left untreated, the disease-causing bacteria will continue to spread and your gum disease will gradually become more severe, eventually developing into periodontitis and causing serious problems for your oral and overall health.
Antibiotic Periodontal Therapy
Antibiotic periodontal therapy is a treatment approach used to combat gum disease, particularly in its more advanced stages like periodontitis. It involves the use of antibiotics, either topically or systemically, to target the bacterial infection responsible for gum disease.
- Topical antibiotic therapies may include the application of antibiotic gels, powders or microspheres directly into the periodontal pockets where bacteria thrive. These localized antibiotics can help eliminate or reduce the harmful bacteria and promote healing of the gum tissues.
- Systemic antibiotics, on the other hand, are taken orally as pills or capsules. They are often used in more severe cases of gum disease or when the infection has spread beyond the localized areas. Systemic antibiotics can help control the bacterial infection throughout the body, not just in the oral cavity.
Antibiotic periodontal therapy is typically used in conjunction with scaling and root planing or other procedures to effectively manage gum disease. Our dentists will evaluate your mouth and the severity of your disease to determine the type of antibiotic that is right for you as well as any other treatments which will be effective based on your specific condition and needs.
Schedule An Appointment
Call 214-340-9696 today to find out more about infection control and antibiotic therapy in Dallas, Texas, and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mazin Nakhleh, Dr. Laura Fisher or Dr. Shohreh Sharifi.