If you’ve been told by a dental professional that you have periodontal disease, the first step in your treatment will be scaling and root planing. The goal of periodontal treatment is to clean the pockets thoroughly of bacteria and to prevent more damage from occurring.
For many patients, this, along with good home care and regular cleanings, will do the trick to improve your oral health and maintain it for a lifetime. However, in severe cases of periodontal disease, it may not be enough.
Antibiotics can be a useful tool in conjunction with surgery and other periodontal therapy if you have:
- Severe forms of periodontitis (advanced gum disease)
- Periodontal disease that has not improved with other types of treatment alone
- Periodontal disease and a weakened immune system
Oral Medication
Oral antibiotics may be necessary to eliminate infection-causing bacteria completely, and are typically administered for an acute infection. While long-term use of oral antibiotics is generally not advised, due to the risks of bacterial resistance, it can be effective to control aggressive periodontal disease.
Topical Medication
Unlike oral medication, which has a systemic effect, topical application of antibiotics to the gum surface will not affect your entire body. Drs. Choudhary and Howanitz may recommend a topical antibiotic to help control bacterial infection, which can include antibiotic mouth rinses or insertion of threads and gels containing antibiotics into the space between your teeth and gums, or into pockets after deep cleaning.
Antibiotics treat the bacterial infection that causes periodontal disease, but they can also be used to:
- Offer protection for patients with heart disease who have dental surgery, to prevent infections in the cardiovascular system
- Help prevent further infection in the gums
- Reduce inflammation that can further damage the gingival tissue
If your periodontal disease isn’t improving, even with regular checkups, cleanings, and home care, ask our periodontists if adding antibiotic therapy is right for you.
