Treating Difficult Areas of Periodontal Disease

Dear Doctor,
I’ve been having gum treatment for years, but there are teeth in my mouth that are still losing bone support. My periodontist has suggested localized antibiotics in these areas. Is this a good idea?

Furcation - Difficult Area to Keep Healthy.

Dear Eric,
The goal of any periodontal treatment (“peri” – around; “odont” – tooth) is to keep the supporting structures of the teeth — gum, bone and the periodontal ligaments that join these tissues to the tooth roots — healthy. Bone loss around a tooth will jeopardize its very survival. Local antimicrobial or antibiotic therapy is a non-surgical treatment approach generally aimed at preventing further periodontal breakdown in difficult-to-treat areas or areas that have not responded well to more traditional treatment approaches.

– See more at: http://www.deardoctor.com/inside-the-magazine/issue-22/treating-difficult-areas-of-periodontal-disease/#sthash.x6Vqvfx8.eILVIhRg.dpuf

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