|
|
A Guide to Gum Disease Products
Please be aware that there are some new products on the market for the treatment of periodontal disease. These products are being heavily marketed by a number of large companies. Many of our patients inquire about these products, and we wanted you to know a little about them.
Although we are excited that there is new technology being developed for the treatment of periodontal disease, the bottom line is that all of the research studies done by these companies -- their own research -- shows less than one millimeter of a difference! Although this is statistically significant for research, it may not be clinically significant. Clinically, we can’t measure tenths of a millimeter with the probe.
The Actisite® tetracycline fiber should be familiar to you. We have been placing the fiber for localized pocketing in isolated areas, usually after gum treatment has been performed and the area is compromised. The fiber is placed around the tooth, held in place with cyano and removed one week later.
PerioChip® is a resorbable chip that is placed in localized pocketing in isolated areas. It contains chlorhexidine (same as Peridex®) which is released over a week’s time as the chip dissolves.
Atridox® is a gel that contains doxycycline (a type of tetracycline). This is squirted into a pocket, and this dissolves over a week releasing the antibiotic to the specific site.
Periostat® is a pill that is taken twice a day for at least three months, sometimes for six or nine months. This pill contains a sub-antimicrobial dose of doxycycline, which is supposed to inhibit an enzyme involved with tissue breakdown. It is only 1/5th the strength of doxycycline and is not supposed to work as an antibiotic. This is available only by prescription.
We are trying all of these products in certain patients to see how they work first hand, but unfortunately, a fiber, a gel, a chip and a pill will not cure periodontal disease. If you or other patients have other questions please ask your doctor.
|
|