The phenomenon of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is currently a serious threat to public health.
If we do not urgently put an end to this phenomenon, we run the risk of returning to the pre-antibiotic era where people could die of pneumonia, meningitis, tuberculosis, typhoid and many other diseases caused by bacteria.
In recent years the most important world institutions are interested in this dramatic problem, but little or nothing has been done to monitor the resistance of bacteria.
In dentistry the situation is even more serious because, almost always, the antibiotic is prescribed in an empirical way and that is without resorting to the laboratory of clinical microbiology that, in addition to isolating and identifying the pathogen responsible for the infection, also assesses its sensitivity “in vitro” to different antibiotics.
It follows that almost nothing is known about the trend of bacterial resistance and it is not excluded that antibiotics are prescribed against which the bacteria have become resistant and therefore ineffective.
Therefore, the possibility of treating bacterial-induced periodontal lesions with non-antibiotic but equally effective remedies is not only in line with the most current scientific needs but also more ethically appropriate, more acceptable and expendable with patients, including the increasing number of patients who are opposed to traditional pharmacological therapies and more oriented towards “natural” therapies.
The treatment of chronic periodontitis varies according to the severity of the clinical picture and can range from simple removal of bacterial plaque with mechanical instruments, to lifting the first section of the gingiva to perform a deeper and more radical cleaning.
In order to promote an effective restoration of the physiological state of soft and hard tissues, as well as to prevent the reappearance of microbial aggression, the mechanical removal of plaque and the smoothing of the surface of dental elements and roots (Election Therapy – SiDP – Italian Society of Periodontology) are accompanied by the insertion into periodontal and peri-implant pockets of adjuvant products in the form of gel, including the medical device H42.
H42 is a paste based on type I collagen, polymeric hydrogel with modulated visco-elasticity and ascorbic acid, for the treatment of periodontal/perimplant pockets. IT DOES NOT CONTAIN ANTIBIOTICS.
The intended use of the H42 medical device is the filling, strengthening and repair of periodontal/perimplant pockets due to periodontitis/perimplantitis. In particular, thanks to its specific physical, biochemical and rheological properties, it is used as an adjuvant gel in the non-surgical treatment of periodontitis and peri-implantitis, following mechanical removal of plaque, biofilm and root smoothing in periodontal and peri-implant pockets.
The gel remains permanently for 15/30 days, in the depth of the periodontal/perimplant pocket, adheres to the mucous tissues of the defect and acts as a sterile occluding dressing that prevents recolonization of the bacteria responsible for periodontal/perimplantitis.
Thanks to the presence of collagen and the peculiar characteristics of hydrogel, H42 creates the best conditions to promote the tissue healing process around the tooth/implant, favouring a reduction of the gingival pocket and the restoration of the functional attack of the tooth/implant.
A small big step has been taken.