THE CHALLENGES OF INFECTION
As you know, periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that can spread rapidly throughout the periodontium, affecting a person’s oral and, potentially, overall health.To assist you in the fight against periodontal disease, please use the following information to help educate your patients and staff about the diagnosis and potential complications of periodontal disease, as well as the proven benefits of adding a locally administered antibiotic (LAA), such as ARESTIN® (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg to your current periodontal treatment regimen.13
Periodontal disease can be a “silent” infection
Because periodontal disease attacks below the gum line, patients can have an infection and not even know it—some people experience no symptoms at all. But some people do experience signs and symptoms of the disease, such as red, swollen, or bleeding gums; bad breath; loose teeth, and pus around the teeth and gums. When gums are bleeding during prophylaxis, probing and charting pocket depth can help diagnose infection, determine its severity, and help you develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Periodontal bacteria form dense biofilms
The bacteria associated with periodontal disease reside within biofilms above and below the gingival margin.6,7,14 Biofilms are dense mixtures of organisms resistant to natural antibodies and proteins that the body uses to fight infection. Approximately 10 million to 1 billion bacteria have been observed in the biofilm-infected periodontal pocket.
Intricate properties make biofilms difficult to remove6,7:
- Bioflims possess a self-protective matrix shield7
- Each contains microenvironments of bacteria6,7
- Bacteria exist in large numbers
- Bioflims possess a self-protective matrix shield
- Biofilms cross-feed and cross-communicate6,7
- Loosely attached and unattached bacteria found at the biofilm surface have direct contact with the epithelium of the gingival tissue6
Red complex bacteria play a role in infection
Specific bacteria are implicated in periodontal disease and are commonly found at the site of infection.7,15 Red complex bacteria—Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsynthensis—are directly associated with important parameters of periodontal diagnosis, such as pocket depth and bleeding on probing.7
Red complex bacteria can spread throughout the periodontium
Periodontal disease is linked to other serious health risks
According to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), periodontal bacteria can enter the blood stream, travel to major organs, and begin new infections.12
Current research suggests that the presence of periodontal bacteria in the bloodstream may lead to12:
- Heart disease, stroke and/or diabetes
- Increased risk of delivering a preterm, low birth-weight baby
- Increased health risk for people with diabetes, respiratory disease, or osteoporosis
A causal relationship between periodontal disease and an elevated risk for systemic events has not been established.