Should You Take Antibiotics for Periodontitis?

Posted on 7/15/2024 by Scholes Periodontics & Implants

a close up of a mouth with inflamed gums

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that destroys the supporting tissues of teeth. If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss. Only a small subset of the hundreds of microorganism species found in the oral cavity are known to cause periodontitis. As a result, bacteria alone are not responsible for causing periodontitis.

The Need for Antibiotics When Treating Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a bacterial infection. As is common with other bacterial infections, antibiotics are considered the most suitable remedy to killing these bacterial species that often hide under the gums with the help of the biofilm that collects around the teeth. Antibiotic therapy is the medication that specifically targets and eliminates harmful bacteria that cause gum disease.

Is Antibiotic Therapy Enough to Treat Periodontitis?

Research has determined that periodontitis is caused by a small subset of bacteria. The implication of this statement is that bacteria alone is not responsible for causing periodontitis. Periodontitis is associated with several other factors, and you will need to use antibiotics in combination with other treatment methods to completely eliminate periodontitis.

Antibiotic Therapy in Combination With Scaling and Root Planing

The most effective way to treat periodontitis is to combine antibiotic therapy together with non-surgical procedures, such as scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing is a cost-effective option for treating chronic periodontitis. It effectively scrapes off dental plaque and tartar that hosts harmful bacteria in your oral cavity.

However, scaling and root planing alone cannot effectively eliminate the subgingival pathogens associated with periodontitis, and neither can they stop the progressive destruction of the tooth structures. Therefore, you need to take systemic antibiotics to complete the treatment process for periodontitis and enhance the degree of clinical gains made through scaling and root planing.
Scaling and root planing eliminate tartar and dental plaque that adheres to your teeth. At the same time, antibiotics will destroy the biofilm-producing bacterial pathogens and other microorganisms that caused periodontitis in the first place.

Seek Professional Help

Although your dentist will prescribe antibiotics to treat periodontitis, you still need deep cleaning for the best results. Visit us today and allow us to eliminate all the biofilm from around your teeth that will continue to affect the health of your teeth.

Scholes Periodontics & Implants in Chandler, AZ

Scholes Periodontics & Implants
Dr. Scholes
595 N Dobson Rd B#34
Chandler, AZ 85224

O: (602) 900-1609
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Scholes Periodontics and Implants, 595 N Dobson Rd #34
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