Periodontal Treatment That's Easy to Swallow

Drugs for the treatment of periodontal disease are helping many patients avoid costly, invasive surgery. In the last year, three new medications which attack gum disease right at the source have become available.

Atridox(tm) is a gel impregnated with a powerful antibiotic. It's injected into the pocket and hardens, releasing the drug over seven to 10 days to destroy periodontal bacteria. It is used on moderate to severe gum disease.

PerioChip(tm) is a tiny square containing chlorhexidine, a common agent in prescription mouthwashes. The chip is inserted into the perio pocket and dissolves, releasing a concentrated dose. Clinical trials have shown significant reduction in the size of the pockets, making overall gum maintenance much easier.

Periostat(tm), which comes in pill form, contains a low dose of an antibiotic that blocks the body's production of collagenase, an enzyme produced by inflammation which destroys collagen, the main component of gum tissue. It is taken daily for two to three months after scaling and root planing, and can decrease the size of perio pockets by up to 67 percent.

Raul Caffesse, D.D.S., M.S., chairman of the periodontics division at The University of Texas-Houston Dental Branch, says that while these new drugs are improving the outcome of periodontal treatment, they do not replace the traditional methods of tartar removal with dental instruments.

- From The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center

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Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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URL: http://www.tmc.edu/health_briefs/05_01_99-periodontal.html