Site-Specific Antibiotic Therapy

Antibiotics usually are given to supplement the beneficial effects of scaling and root planing, a common treatment for periodontal disease. Although many forms of periodontal disease are successfully treated using this combined approach, other situations may require additional treatment, including periodontal surgery.

Because periodontal diseases are caused by bacteria, you may be wondering why antibiotics aren't considered a routine part of periodontal therapy. In today's world, health professionals are extremely concerned about bacteria becoming resistant to the effects of antibiotics. This can happen when antibiotics are overused or when prescriptions are not taken exactly as instructed by your dentist or physician. Therefore, because most forms of gingivitis and periodontitis can be successfully treated without antibiotics, these drugs are avoided unless absolutely necessary.