Preventive
ARESTIN®
An antibiotic placed directly into a deep gum pocket, right after it has been cleaned.
ARESTIN is minocycline in the form of tiny microspheres. After a deep cleaning, the powder is placed into the pocket around a specific tooth, where it sticks to the surfaces and releases the antibiotic slowly over about two weeks.
The reason for putting it there rather than taking a tablet is simple: the infection is in a handful of specific pockets, not throughout your body. A local placement gets a useful concentration exactly where it is needed without asking the rest of you to process an antibiotic you do not otherwise need.
It is an addition to scaling and root planing, never a replacement for it. If the hardened deposits are still on the root, no antibiotic will fix the pocket.
Is this right for me?
- You are having scaling and root planing and some pockets are five millimeters or deeper.
- Pockets stayed deep at your re-measurement despite good cleaning at home.
- You are not allergic to tetracycline antibiotics and are not pregnant or nursing.
What to expect
The pocket is cleaned first
Scaling and root planing comes first, always. ARESTIN is placed into a pocket that has already had the hardened deposits removed.
Placement
A small applicator delivers the powder to the base of the pocket. It takes seconds per site and there is no needle and no stitches.
The first week
Avoid flossing those specific teeth for ten days and skip crunchy or sticky food in that area for a week, so the microspheres stay where they were put.
Re-check
At your follow-up we measure the same pockets again. That comparison tells us whether the site is settling or needs a different approach.
Your comfort
Placement itself is not uncomfortable — the area is usually still numb from the deep cleaning. The main thing people notice is the instruction not to floss those teeth for a while, which feels strange after being told to floss for years.
Insurance and payment, sorted before you sit down
We take all PPO plans, Medi-Cal Dental and most Medicare Advantage dental plans, and we check your benefits before treatment so the estimate is in writing. If you need to spread the cost, we work with CareCredit, Cherry and Sunbit.
Apply for financing — Cherry Avenue Office
- CareCredit®Apply online in a few minutes. Decision is usually immediate.
- CherryApply on your phone. The pre-qualification check does not affect your credit score.
- SunbitApplied for at the front desk when you come in — takes a few minutes.
Questions patients ask
Is ARESTIN a substitute for a deep cleaning?
No. It is placed after scaling and root planing, into a pocket that has already been cleaned. On its own it would be working against deposits that need to be physically removed.
How many teeth will need it?
Only the sites with deep pockets, which is often a handful rather than the whole mouth. We will show you the chart and the specific teeth before you agree to anything.
Are there side effects?
Some people notice mild tenderness or gum sensitivity in the treated area for a few days. Tell us if you have ever reacted to tetracycline, doxycycline or minocycline — that rules it out — and tell us if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Is it covered by insurance?
Coverage varies more for this than for the deep cleaning itself. We check your specific plan and include it in the written estimate, so you know before it is placed rather than after.
Why can I not floss those teeth?
Floss would drag the microspheres out of the pocket before they have released the medication. Keep brushing normally, and keep flossing everywhere else — it is only the treated sites, and only for about ten days.
Related services
Thinking about ARESTIN®?
Send a request and we'll call you back to find a time. You'll get a written estimate before anything is booked in the schedule.