Antibiotic Treatment for Periodontal Disease: When & Why It’s Used
Antibiotic treatment can be an important part of periodontal care for certain patients — but it is not needed in every case.
Periodontal disease, commonly called gum disease, affects the gums and other tissues that support your teeth. As the disease progresses, deeper spaces called periodontal pockets can develop around the teeth where harmful bacteria can accumulate.
For some patients, antibiotic or antimicrobial treatment may be used along with periodontal therapy to help control bacteria associated with the disease. The right approach depends on your individual periodontal health, the severity of the condition and how your gums respond to treatment.
Periodontal Antibiotic Treatment May Include
Medication delivered directly into periodontal pockets
Oral medication in selected cases
Treatment used with scaling and root planing when appropriate
An individualized approach based on your periodontal health
Why Are Antibiotics Used in Periodontal Treatment?
Periodontal treatment is designed to reduce the bacterial buildup and inflammation associated with gum disease and create an environment that is easier to keep healthy.
For patients with periodontitis, scaling and root planing is a common nonsurgical treatment used to remove plaque and calculus from below the gumline and clean the root surfaces. In selected situations, antibiotic or antimicrobial treatment may be recommended as an additional part of that care.
Local Antibiotic & Antimicrobial Treatment
Some periodontal medications can be placed directly into a periodontal pocket. This allows the medication to be concentrated in a specific area where treatment is needed.
Depending on the condition of the gums and the depth of the periodontal pockets, locally delivered antimicrobial treatment may be considered along with scaling and root planing.
Oral Antibiotic Treatment
In other situations, an oral medication may be considered. Unlike locally delivered treatment, an oral antibiotic is taken by mouth and works systemically throughout the body.
Oral antibiotics are not automatically prescribed simply because periodontal disease is present. Dr. Chin considers the periodontal condition, your health history, medications and other relevant factors before determining whether systemic antibiotic treatment is appropriate.
Antibiotics With Scaling & Root Planing
Antibiotic treatment does not replace the need to remove plaque, calculus and bacterial deposits associated with periodontal disease.
When appropriate, antibiotics or locally delivered antimicrobials may be used along with scaling and root planing. The goal is to support periodontal treatment in areas or situations where an additional therapy may be beneficial.
When Might Dr. Chin Recommend Antibiotic Treatment?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The decision is based on what Dr. Chin finds during your periodontal evaluation and how your gums respond to treatment.
Factors may include:
• The type and severity of periodontal disease
• The depth and condition of periodontal pockets
• How the gums respond to periodontal treatment
• Your dental and medical history
• Whether local or systemic treatment is appropriate
If antibiotic treatment is recommended, you should understand why it is being used and how it fits into your overall periodontal treatment plan.
What Happens After Periodontal Treatment?
Periodontal care doesn’t necessarily end when the initial treatment is completed. Your gums may need to be reevaluated so the dental team can see how the tissues and periodontal pockets have responded.
Patients with periodontitis may also need ongoing periodontal maintenance. Brushing, cleaning between the teeth and following your recommended professional-care schedule remain important because antibiotic treatment does not replace daily oral hygiene or ongoing periodontal care.
Periodontal Care at Cedar Hills Dental Care
If you have bleeding or swollen gums, gum recession, persistent bad breath or have been told you have periodontal disease, the first step is determining what is happening and what level of treatment you may need.
Christine Chin, DMD earned her D.M.D. from OHSU in 1989 and has more than 35 years of dental experience. Cedar Hills Dental Care combines that experience with modern dental care and a comfortable, patient-centered approach.
If antibiotic treatment may be useful as part of your periodontal care, Dr. Chin can explain why it is being recommended, what type of treatment is appropriate and how it fits into the overall plan for your gums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does everyone with periodontal disease need antibiotics?
No. Antibiotic or antimicrobial treatment may be useful for selected patients, but it is not automatically needed for everyone with gum disease. Treatment should be based on your individual periodontal condition.
Can antibiotics treat periodontal disease by themselves?
Antibiotics generally do not replace periodontal treatment that addresses plaque and calculus around the teeth. When antibiotics are appropriate, they are typically considered as part of a broader periodontal treatment plan.
Are periodontal antibiotics always pills?
No. Depending on the situation, antimicrobial medication may be placed directly into a periodontal pocket, while other treatment may involve oral medication. Dr. Chin can determine which approach, if any, is appropriate for you.
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Questions About Periodontal Antibiotic Treatment?
Call Cedar Hills Dental Care to discuss your gum health and treatment options.
(503) 643-7502
Dentally Reviewed by Christine Chin, DMD
Christine Chin, DMD, earned her D.M.D. from OHSU in 1989 and has cared for patients at Cedar Hills Dental Care for more than 35 years.