You may have heard about gum disease, also known as "periodontitis" or "periodontal disease." Maybe a dental professional or hygienist recently told you that you have this infection.

But do you really know the difference between periodontal disease and other types of complications that can affect your mouth, such as gingivitis? Do you know why it's so important to treat periodontal disease-and why brushing and flossing alone won't do the trick? Most importantly, did you know that periodontal disease is today's #1 cause of tooth loss among American adults? Or that, although a causal relationship between periodontal disease and an elevated risk for systemic events has not been established,recent data suggest a possible association between periodontal disease and other health issues including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and preterm low birth-weight babies?

Fight infection right where it starts
ARESTIN® (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg is an effective antibiotic treatment that comes in powder form. This powder is placed inside infected periodontal pockets just after the dental professional finishes the scaling and root planing (SRP) procedure.

The information in this section will help you understand why periodontal disease occurs and how you can talk to your dental professional if you have an infection in your gums:

Do I Need ARESTIN®?
Take our oral health self-exam to help you determine whether you may be at risk for gum disease.

How Does It Work?
How ARESTIN® Microspheres deliver treatment directly to the site of infection and help reduce the bacteria that cause periodontal infection.

Talking to My Dental Professional
Ask your dental professional if you have an infection in your gums and whether your insurance covers treatment with ARESTIN®.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Now, let's get started in understanding periodontal disease and the treatments that can fight off this infection.