TALKING TO MY DENTAL PROFESSIONAL
Why should I be concerned about periodontal infection?
Remember, your gums are the foundation for your teeth and dental work, so you need to keep them healthy. Whether your dental visit is for bonding, bridges, crowns, veneers, whitening treatments, or just a checkup-it's important to ask your dental professional to check for infection before receiving any dental work.
How do I know if ARESTIN® is right for me?
Any member of your dental healthcare team-your dentist, your hygienist, or periodontist-can determine whether you have periodontal disease by measuring the size of your pockets, or the spaces or gaps in the gums around the teeth. Pockets that measure 4 or more millimeters (mm) in depth and/or bleed upon gum probing may mean that infection is present. Your dental professional may want to initiate treatment with ARESTIN® (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg before periodontal disease causes further damage.
Will I experience side effects with ARESTIN®?
ARESTIN® is safe and easy for your dental professional to administer. Patients treated with ARESTIN® may experience some mild-to-moderate side effects. The most frequent side effects reported in clinical trials were headache (9.0%), infection (7.6%), flu syndrome (5.0%), and pain (4.3%). These side effect occurred at similar rates in patients who received SRP alone and SRP + placebo.
Will ARESTIN® be covered by my dental insurance?
Many insurance plans provide some assistance with costs. You should talk with your dental professional and his or her office staff about payment options and obtaining maximum reimbursement for treatment. In light of recent information linking periodontal disease to overall health18, many insurance providers are increasing their coverage for these types of treatments. And, keep in mind that treating periodontal disease today is less costly and better for your health than waiting for the disease to cause tooth loss or lead to a more expensive periodontal or surgical procedure. A causal relationship between periodontal disease and an elevated risk for systemic events has not been established.
If you have additional questions about ARESTIN®, visit our Frequently Asked Questions section.