In order for teeth and gums to recover from periodontal disease, it is necessary that the mouth is cleaned from bacteria. This is done through a treatment such as scaling and root planing (SRP), which cleans between the gums and the teeth down to the roots. Scaling removes the plaque, tartar, and stains from the surface of teeth while planing smoothes the rough areas on the roots of teeth to promote healing. Frequently a local anesthetic is used to numb the gums and the roots of your teeth in preparation to the treatment.

Now dentists are using an antibiotic called ARESTIN^® to aid in the fight of gum disease and are finding that using this antibiotic with SRP results in nearly 3x more successful outcomes than using SRP alone.

What is ARESTIN^®

ARESTIN^® is an antibiotic that contains microspheres, which are tiny, bead-like particles smaller than grains of sand. The microspheres are filled with an antibiotic called minocycline hydrochloride, which is released over time, killing bacteria so gums can heal better than with SRP alone.

Why ARESTIN^®

Bacteria is the cause of gum disease. And antibiotics kill bacteria. Scaling and root planing (SRP) remove much of the bacteria that causes periodontal infection, but it doesn’t reach the bacteria that hides in the bottom of pockets.

A locally administered antibiotic (LAA) such as  ARESTIN^® helps to get at the bacteria hiding in these pockets. After the SRP treatment, ARESTIN^® is placed into the infected gum pockets below the gumline.

This procedure may happen at the time of SRP treatment or at a follow-up visit. Depending on the patient ARESTIN^® may also be used for routine periodontal maintenance. Getting ARESTIN^® is painless and will dissolve on its own, so no removal is required.

If you’d like more information on treatments to fight gum disease, ask Dr. Leardi on your next visit. He’ll explain the procedures commonly done to fight periodontal disease and share with you his experience in using the antibiotic ARESTIN^®. For more information about ARESTIN^®, you can also visit the official website at http://www.arestin.com.

In 2003 the World Health Organization published a comprehensive report on oral health with research showing that up to 85% of adults in the US have some form of gum disease. Unfortunately most of these people don’t know it.

The symptoms of gum disease include:

• Bleeding gums
• Sensitive teeth
• Obvious plaque, tartar or calculus
• Persistent b ad breath
• Swollen, red or tender gums
• Spaces developing between your teeth
• Receding gums (teeth appear longer)
• Loose or mobile teeth

These symptoms are part of your body’s response to a bacterial infection in the gum tissue around the teeth, and they are serious. Many people ignore the symptoms because they cannot see the infected areas. You can easily swallow the blood and bacteria when brushing and flossing for example, but it is not normal. If you were bleeding from an infected wound in your hand, you would treat it. The bacterial infection in your mouth should also be treated.

Treatment is even more important because research has linked infected gum tissue to:

• Type II Diabetes
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Blood Clots and Strokes
• Preterm and Low Birth Weight Babies
• Respiratory Disease
• Alzheimer’s Disease

Effective Treatment

The Perio Protect Method uses an FDA-cleared medical device called a Perio Tray that is custom-made for your mouth. The Perio Tray has a special, patented seal that holds medications in the infected area for enough time to kill the bacteria causing the disease.

Patients describe the Perio Tray as comfortable and Perio Protect treatment as easy to do. Your doctor or hygienist will tell you how often and long to wear your Perio Trays. For most people this amounts to only minutes each day When you consider treatment options, you should know that Perio Protect is a non-invasive treatment that effectively delivers antimicrobial medication around the teeth and below the gum line to kill the bacteria causing the disease, It also offers a long-term homecare maintenance program to manage the disease.

• OraVerse^® rapidly reverses the effects of your local dental anesthetic after routine dental procedures
• It is scientifically proven to accelerate the return of normal sensation in the lip and tongue.
• A return of runction (such as speaking, smiling, and drinking) allows you to get back to your day.
• Oraverse^® is proven safe and effective for adults and children aged six and older and weighing more than 33 pounds.
• Parents benefit knowing children will regain normal feeling more quickly with OraVerse®.

The average duration of soft tissue numbness following the use of a local dental anesthetic is 3-5 hours. With OraVerse^® you can decrease that feeling of numbness by 50%.  Next time you visit Dr. Leardi, ask him to tell you about OraVerse^®.

Gum disease or periodontal disease is a serious infection that can lead to tooth loss, eventually affecting your overall health. To treat this disease, your dentist may recommend a locally administered antibiotic. This antibiotic, called Arestin^®, helps fight infection that leads to gum disease right where is starts, in your gums. Denal professionals add ARESTIN^® (minocycline hydrochloride) to scaling and root planing (SRP) procedures, This combination treats perodontal discease better than SRP alone.

What It Is
ARESTIN^® is an effective antibiotic treatment in a powder form. This powder is easily placed inside infected periodontal pockets immediately after the dental professional completes the scaling and root planing process.

How It Works
ARESTIN^® contains tiny, bead-like particles that are smaller than grains of sand. These microspheres are filled with the antibiotic minocycline. They release the drug over time into the infected periodontal pocket. This kills the bacteria that live there for up to 21 days.

Proven Results
In clinical studies ARESTIN^® has been proven to be more effective than just using SRP. ARESTIN^® also ready reduced the size of periodontal pockets, killed the bacteria most commonly associated with periodontal disease and reduced bum bleeding during probing.

This comprehensive apporach gives patients two treatments that work together (ARESTIN^® and SRP) to effectively eliminate the harmful bacterial that lead to periodontal disease.

I started my current practice on December 1, 1998 with zero patients. That quickly changed! With the help of a terrific staff and a great location, my practice grew fast. I had several patients follow me from the small office I worked at in Media, and had the support of many friends and family as well. I have been fortunate to have a good following everywhere that I have had the privilege to practice.

I enjoy being active in the local community. I am a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and a former Eagle Scout. I am a member of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce, and am the dentist for the Avon Grove School District. I sponsor a team for Making Strides for a Cure in Wilmington, DE, which is a breast cancer walk along the Wilmington Waterfront which I, my family, friends and staff all participate in. The Lady’s Night Out we sponsored raised money for Neighborhood Services. We are also proud sponsors of Unionville Elementary’s annual Read-A-Thon and Unionville High School’s Wrestling Team.

My wife Sue and I have been married since October 23, 1993….the day the Phillies lost the World Series. We live in Lincoln University with our five children and 2 dogs. My oldest daughter Eileen is nine. We then had quadruplets, and they are six years old now. Sue and I were blessed with three more daughters, Patty, Allie and Maura, and a son, Bill. I enjoy spending time with my family. I also like cycling, sporting clays, and golf (where I am extremely golf challenged!).

My favorite motto is “You can’t go wrong by doing right.”  I just try to do the right thing and treat every patient the same way I would treat a family member. I am very conservative in my treatment plans for my patients. The most important factor in restoring a patient’s dentition is function. If you get the function down correctly, esthetics usually follow. We do excellent cosmetic treatment in our practice, but cosmetic treatment will fail if the occlusion (bite) is not correct and their teeth can’t function properly.

I have a wonderful family, a great staff and a great office. I have a great following with many loyal patients. I have always felt very blessed.

Today whitening or bleaching treatments are available to satisfy almost every budget, timeframe and temperament. Whether you choose one-hour bleaching sessions at the dentist’s office or purchase in-home bleaching kits, teeth whitening solutions are readily accessible.

Teeth whitening is also one of the least expensive, yet very effective cosmetic improvements you can do. Virtually everyone who proceeds with this cosmetic treatment will see moderate to significant improvement in the brightness and whiteness of their smile. While it is not a permanent solution and may require maintenance or “touch-ups” for a prolonged effect, it does offer an “immediate” result that will not only brighten your smile, but may improve your overall mood and appearance, too.

Why use a dentist for teeth whitening treatments?

While there are many effective in-home teeth whitening solutions available today, there are many reasons that you may want to undergo teeth whitening treatments under the care of the dentist. First,  you will be fitted with bleaching (or whitening) trays that are personally customized for you, which often translates into a more comfortable experience overall. Second, the bleaching formula that the dentist provides is stronger than the over-the-counter choices and will give you the results you want much more quickly. Finally, all this is done under the watchful eye of the dentist who will monitor the progress of your treatments and ensure that you achieve safe and effective results.

If you’re interested in finding out more about teeth whitening options and the products Leardi Family Dentistry uses, make sure you ask Dr. Leardi at your next appointment.

Invisalign^®’s clear aligners are virtually invisible. You wear each aligner for about two weeks, gradually straightening your teeth to the desired position. Since your aligners are custom made for you, they are comfortable to wear. The aligners may be removed whenever you want, so there is no worry when playing sports or a musical instrument. You can also eat all of your favorite foods, and brush and floss with no problems. Put your aligners back on when you’re

How Can Invisalign Help^®?

Widely Spaced Teeth: An occurrence when the jaw bone continues to grow and when teeth are missing, teeth will shift due to extra space. These spacing issues can cause some periodontal diseases.

Overly crowded teeth: When there is a lack of room within your jaw for all of your teeth to fit normally, overly crowded teeth can cause dental decay, an increase in chances of gum disease, and can prevent the normal function of teeth.

Crossbite: When the upper and lower jaws are both misaligned, one or more upper teeth can bite on the inside of the lower teeth causing wearing of the teeth, gum disease, and bone loss.

Overbite: When the upper teeth bite over the lower teeth, it can lead to gum problems or irritation, and/or wear on the lower teeth and can cause painful jaw and joint problems.

Underbite: This occurs when the lower teeth protrude past the front teeth, caused usually by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or by missing upper teeth, preventing the normal function of front teeth or molars and leading to tooth wear, painful jaw and joint problems.

If you think you have any of these conditions or simply want to learn more about Invisalign^®, ask Dr. Leardi about this unique technology today and get the smile you want….invisibly!

• Payment is due at the time of service.
• All credit cards are accepted
• We offer a 10% discount for cash, checks and debit cards.
  And 5% discount for regular credit cards.
• Insurance will be billed as a courtesy.
• Insurance quotes and estimates are not a guarantee of payment
• There is a 24 hour cancellation policy or a charge will be incurred.
• Children under 18 should be accompanied by a parent for appointments, or a signed and dated note from parent regarding any change in medication or medical history will be accepted.