Dentists work with patients to keep their oral health in check. Healthy gums are essential to good oral and overall health. Patients with gum disease and tartar buildup often undergo a process known as scaling and planing. During this process, the dentist may inject an antibiotic into gum pockets to help with healing and to prevent further infection.
Before having this procedure done, you may have questions concerning the locally applied antibiotic dental process. Here are some answers to common questions about the use of these antibiotics.
Why Do Dentists Use Antibiotic Injections?
Dental patients with gum disease actually have an infection in their mouth. To heal, the gums need an antibiotic to kill the bacteria. Untreated gum infections lead to deep pockets in the gums. These pockets are disease tissue, and as they deepen, teeth lose their support of the gums.
During the scaling and planning process to remove the buildup of plaque and tartar, the dentist also injects a locally applied antibiotic to kill the bacteria and help the gums heal.
How Does The Locally Applied Antibiotic Work?
Dentists inject the gel or powder beneath the patient's gumline. The antibiotic gel dissolves over time and the patient isn't required to return for further treatment. The antibiotics remain in the area beneath the gum line where bacteria live and multiply. And until it finishes dissolving, the treatment is hard at work ridding the area of infection.
How Many Treatments Are Needed?
The battle against gum disease takes time, especially if there are many deep pockets of infection. Patients with more advanced gum disease may need more treatments.
The treatments are most effective when patients follow their dentists' instructions for post-treatment care. It is also important for patients to continue with good oral hygiene to ensure their gums remain healthy.
Are Locally Applied Antibiotics Safe?
The antibiotics dentists use are safe and effective. These antibiotic treatments are essential in helping the patient achieve healthy gums and better oral health.
Without proper treatment of gum disease and infection, patients develop other complications.
The scaling and planing process with antibiotics can help prevent tooth loss and further infection.
Gum disease is a serious issue. Those suffering from gum disease often deal with painful gums, sensitive teeth, and even tooth loss. However, dentists can effectively remove the buildup of tartar and plaque and use an antibiotic injection to shrink pockets of bacteria.
Contact a dental company, such as P3 Dental Technologies, to learn more about antibiotics.