The Arestin placement requirement provided me with a profound understanding of the remarkable advancements in antibiotic medicine. As a compassionate healthcare provider, I had the privilege to assist a Stage III Grade C patient with severe pocketing. Before administering the Arestin, I carefully flattened the blunted tip to ensure patient comfort and easy insertion into the periodontal pocket. The Arestin antibiotic was applied to the DB, DL, MB, and ML surfaces of tooth #3, following nonsurgical periodontal treatment that had a baseline pocket depth of 7mm for the DB, and 6mm for the other surfaces.
As part of my comprehensive post-op care plan, I instructed the patient to refrain from brushing, flossing, and using mouth rinse for 12 hours and to wait at least 10 days before using interproximal aids. Over a month later, my patient returned for a limited focus visit to re-evaluate the treated surfaces. I am pleased to report that the probing depths showed a significant improvement, with the pocket depths changing from 7mm to 4mm for the DB, and 6mm to 4mm for the other surfaces.
I take pride in informing my patient how Arestin helped improve their condition. My patient was impressed by the noninvasive and quick procedure, which provided such remarkable results. This experience has given me a newfound appreciation of how, with patient collaboration in antibiotic placement, thorough post-op instruction, and encouraging patient-compliance of oral home care, a hygienist can effectively promote optimal oral healthcare.
