Teach your patients

You can help patients understand the potential oral health consequences of not fully treating their periodontal infection

Several factors may contribute to a patient’s acceptance of their dental health care professional’s recommended treatment plan:

  • Direct language that includes “active infection” is highly motivating—73% of patients surveyed would go to the dentist immediately1
  • Most patients said they are motivated to accept recommended treatment when periodontal disease is explained as a chronic bacterial infection that can lead to other symptoms such as tooth loss1
    NOTE: ARESTIN is not indicated to prevent tooth loss.
  • The urgency with which the treatment recommendation is delivered was a significant factor in the acceptance of treatment1
  • Allowing enough time to continue conversations after the examination to aid understanding1

Patients are counting on your treatment recommendation

87%

87% of patients surveyed feel it’s important that you take action to fight their infection.2

75%

75% of patients surveyed would consider adjunctive locally administered antibiotic (LAA) therapy if educated about incomplete bacterial removal.2

As you explain your recommended treatment plan, review the goals of therapy with your patients to help set and manage their expectations. The ultimate goal of periodontal therapy is to attain periodontal health, which should include improvement in pocket depth reduction.3,4

Before initiating comprehensive treatment for periodontal disease, consider taking these steps:

  • Discuss the patient’s medical history. Highlight significant risk factors for periodontal disease progression, such as smoking, cardiovascular disease, age, and diabetes.
  • Perform a comprehensive periodontal evaluation. Explain that you are looking for signs of periodontal disease, such as increasing pocket depth, radiographic bone loss, and bleeding on probing (BOP), as well as measuring for pockets ≥5 mm. NOTE: ARESTIN is not indicated to prevent bone loss or BOP.
  • Explain the potential outcomes. Discuss each of the potential outcomes associated with periodontal disease and how they relate to the patient’s active participation and compliance before, during, and after treatment.
  • Address potential treatment-related concerns. Talk about the cost of procedures, insurance coverage, and possible discomfort associated with treatment. By prescribing through ARESTIN Rx Access, your patients may be able to receive ARESTIN treatment for as low as a $0 copay.*

ARESTIN post-treatment instructions for patients

Once you have administered ARESTIN, it will continue to fight infection after the patient has left your office.5 To promote efficacy, it is important to give your patients clear post-treatment instructions. Explain the self-care and maintenance tips listed below to help protect the treated sites.

For 1 week after treatment6:

  • Do not touch the sites treated with ARESTIN
  • Do not chew hard, crunchy, or sticky foods (such as carrots, taffy, or gum)

For 10 days after treatment6:

  • Do not floss or use other tools to clean between the treated teeth
  • Mild-to-moderate sensitivity is normal. Advise your patients to contact you if they have severe pain or signs of an allergic reaction (such as itching or swelling)

Keep up with treatment:

  • Scheduling and keeping follow-up visits can help maintain control of periodontal disease

Read Our White Papers

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USE THIS EDUCATION CARD

to help your patients better understand periodontal disease.

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Use these materials to educate patients about their periodontal disease, potential risks, and treatment options.

*Please see Offer Restrictions and Eligibility Requirements on the Copay Assistance Patient Eligibility Form.

REFERENCES: 1. Data on file. OraPharma. Bridgewater, NJ; 2013. 2. Data on file. OraPharma. Periodontal disease patient study. Prepared by Olson Research Group, Inc. May 2011. 3. Greenstein G. Clinical versus statistical significance as they relate to the efficacy of periodontal therapy. JADA. 2003;134:583-591. 4. Armitage GC. Periodontal diseases: diagnosis. Ann Periodontol. 1996;1(1):37-215. 5. Williams RC, Paquette DW, Offenbacher S, et al. Treatment of periodontitis by local administration of minocycline microspheres: a controlled trial. J Periodontol. 2001;72(11):1535-1544. 6. ARESTIN® (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg. Prescribing Information. OraPharma; Bridgewater, NJ. 

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INDICATION

ARESTIN® (minocycline HCl) Microspheres, 1mg is indicated as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) procedures for reduction of pocket depth in patients with adult periodontitis. ARESTIN® may be used as part of a periodontal maintenance program, which includes good oral hygiene and SRP.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

  • ARESTIN is contraindicated in any patient who has a known sensitivity to minocycline or tetracyclines. Hypersensitivity reactions and hypersensitivity syndrome that included, but were not limited to anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid reaction, angioneurotic edema, urticaria, rash, eosinophilia, and one or more of the following: hepatitis, pneumonitis, nephritis, myocarditis, and pericarditis may be present. Swelling of the face, pruritus, fever and lymphadenopathy have been reported with the use of ARESTIN. Some of these reactions were serious. Post-marketing cases of anaphylaxis and serious skin reactions such as Stevens Johnson syndrome and erythema multiforme have been reported with oral minocycline, as well as acute photosensitivity reactions.
  • THE USE OF DRUGS OF THE TETRACYCLINE CLASS DURING TOOTH DEVELOPMENT MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DISCOLORATION OF THE TEETH, AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE USED IN CHILDREN OR IN PREGNANT OR NURSING WOMEN.
  • Tetracyclines, including oral minocycline, have been associated with development of autoimmune syndromes including a lupus-like syndrome manifested by arthralgia, myalgia, rash, and swelling. Sporadic cases of serum sickness-like reaction have presented shortly after oral minocycline use, manifested by fever, rash, arthralgia, lymphadenopathy and malaise. In symptomatic patients, diagnostic tests should be performed and ARESTIN treatment discontinued.
  • The use of ARESTIN in an acutely abscessed periodontal pocket or for use in the regeneration of alveolar bone has not been studied.
  • The safety and effectiveness of ARESTIN has not been established in immunocompromised patients or in those with coexistent oral candidiasis. Use with caution if there is a predisposition to oral candidiasis.
  • In clinical trials, the most frequently reported nondental treatment-emergent adverse events were headache, infection, flu syndrome, and pain.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bausch Health US, LLC at 1-800-321-4576 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Click here for full Prescribing Information.

Click here for IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

  • ARESTIN is contraindicated in any patient who has a known sensitivity to minocycline or tetracyclines.
  • THE USE OF DRUGS OF THE TETRACYCLINE CLASS DURING TOOTH DEVELOPMENT MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DISCOLORATION OF THE TEETH, AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE USED IN CHILDREN OR IN PREGNANT OR NURSING WOMEN.