Bacterial Sampling, Culturing
& Antibiotic Therapy

Antibiotics and Culturing

Antibiotics may be recommended to help control the growth of bacteria that create toxins and cause periodontitis. However, because we want to be certain that the antibiotics will be effective, it is necessary to identify the bacteria by taking bacterial samples and growing (culturing) them. Culturing the bacteria under the gum will determine if certain destructive forms of bacteria are present. These bacteria often cause the infection to be more aggressive and resistant to normal therapies. If they are found to be present, specific antibiotics will then be prescribed to target these aggressive bacteria. Antibiotic therapy helps us treat certain forms of aggressive or resistant gum disease. However, it is important to know that antibiotic therapy supplements doesn’t replace conventional periodontal therapy.