Q: Does LANAP require a course of antibiotics?

A: We use antibiotics for 7-14 days depending on the patient and sequence of treatment per protocol.

Q: Is it safe to take periostat for gum disease?

A: We generally do not prescribe any long term antibiotics. Generally, we prefer to use laser treatment to kill off the “bad bacteria” that cause gum disease.

Q: What could be the least invasive way a dentist could take care of my gum (periodontic) abscess? I know that antibiotics are not a cure at all.

A: We utilize an ND/YAG laser to treat periodontal disease, including abscesses. We get rapid healing, bone regeneration, and minimal discomfort experienced by the patient.

Q: What are milky white sores inside the mouth? The sores are painful and don’t look like canker sores or aphthous ulcers. They are swollen, larger, and there is a milky white ‘line’ alongside of the tongue. These sores remind me of strep throat. I have osteomyelitis on other side of mouth. I’m being treated with Clindamycin HCL 300MG caps and Magic Mouthwash by an ENT. My dentist said I must have bitten my tongue and cheek. I can’t afford ENT at this time; I have appointment in 4 weeks. These milky white sores require pain medication to eat and sleep. I fear dependency. If I learn what I have, maybe I can treat myself. Help!

A: I am sorry you are having these issues. From your description, it sounds like you have mucosal lesions that might be something similar to Pemphigus, E Multiforme or Pemphigoid. I would strongly recommend seeing either an oral surgeon or oral pathologist. You could also have this type of reaction from taking medications such as antibiotics. The osteomyelitis is also a concern. Magic Mouthwash will help ease the pain but won’t cure the problem. Please seek help ASAP from one of the above specialists.

Q: I had all my gums grafted 6 weeks ago and just started have a bad taste in my mouth. I had 6 weeks of antibiotics.

A: You had all your gums grafted 6 weeks ago? Did you have bone grafts? Soft tissue grafts? Why were you on 6 weeks of antibiotics? Did you have any oral infections during this time? Do you have a periodontal packing in your mouth? Are you under the care of a qualified periodontist? Did you have any post-operative visits? The taste could be related to an infection in your mouth, or medications that you are taking. I strongly suggest you follow up with your periodontist as soon as possible to find out the source of your “bad taste”.

Q: I was told I need conventional gum surgery for 6mm pockets. I had double hip replacements a year ago and am concerned about the potential effects of the gum surgery. Amoxicillin will be prescribed for before and after, but he won’t use the laser, as he said the disease is down to the bone. Wouldn’t laser be better with my hip replacements?

A: We try to utilize laser periodontal surgery whenever possible. (Yes…it would be a more desirable method to treat your gum disease.) We routinely use the laser to treat patients who have prosthetic hips, knees, and other prosthetic body parts. Additionally, we follow the antibiotic guidelines to cover our patients to avoid any post-operative infection. We treat the bone with the laser so we are not concerned about any of the issues you have discussed.

Q: Is there a periodontal treatment for severe dry mouth?

A: Usually, dry mouth is a side-effect of medications. There are medications to enhance salivary flow. In some rare cases a disease causes this condition. It can be diagnosed through a blood test. We do see an increase in periodontal disease in these patients.

Q: I am on blood thinners. Do I have to get off these medications before the laser surgery?

A: One of the advantages of laser surgery is that patients don’t have to stop their medications as with conventional gum surgery. This eliminates the risk to you of discontinuing the medications.

Q: How effective is ARESTIN® in treating gum disease?

A: ARESTIN® is a powder like antibiotic that we used to place underneath the gum tissue. For many years our office used almost every injectable antibiotic product that seemed reputable and available, but we had to repeat their use every two or three months. We don’t need to do that anymore because of the laser protocol. The laser takes care of the infection and regenerates the bone.

Q: Is tetracycline gel a good treatment for gum disease and what are the side effects?

A: Tetracycline is an adjunctive medication useful with definitive periodontal treatment. This is an antibiotic that is specific for killing off bacteria that cause periodontal disease. However, it doesn’t kill all of them. Warnings: Long term use could create resistance. Use with caution when taking birth control pills, excessive sun exposure, ingesting dairy products and cross reactivity with many other medications. Always read the warning labels when taking any medications. In summary, tetracycline alone is not an adequate treatment for gum disease.