For Patients

Periodontal (gum) disease is caused by a bacterial infection. PerioChip, a non-antibiotic antibacterial local therapy, can be added to the scaling and root planing (SRP) procedure your dentist performs, which can help kill any bacteria left that is causing your gum disease.

Gum Disease

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is caused by bacteria above and especially beneath the gum line. It is a serious chronic infection that can cause a destruction of the gum tissues and supporting bone that holds your teeth in place in the jaw. Gum disease is one of the main causes of adult tooth loss.

Despite the fact that it is easily treated, and best treated if caught early, many people tend to ignore their dentist’s advice to treat gum disease in its early stages.

If left untreated, periodontal pockets infection will cause the gums to detach from teeth. The teeth may then become loose and either fall out or have to be removed, requiring more painful and expensive surgery.

In combination with root surface debridement (RSD), your dentist may suggest an adjunct antibacterial therapy like PerioChip to help treat your gum disease and keep it in check.

Diagnosing Gum Disease

Your dentist can tell if you have gum disease by gently probing the space between your tooth and your gum. In a healthy tooth, the probe does not reach very far under the gum. If the probe reaches further under the gum into a "periodontal pocket," this shows that the gums are beginning to swell and detach from the tooth. This is caused by bacteria that generate inflammation, or gingivitis. Gingivitis is the early stage and when untreated it is usually proceeding to full-blown gum disease. If the probe sinks deeper into the pocket, this is evidence of more advanced gum disease, called periodontitis.

The symptoms below are early signs of gum disease that you may have experienced:

Tender or painful gums
Bright red gums
Swollen gums
Bleeding gums
Pockets
Loose teeth
Shifting teeth
Bad breath

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek professional advice from your dentist.

Common Treatments If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, your dentist or periodontist will perform root surface debridement (RSD), to clean plaque and tartar from your teeth and roots. RSD can remove much of the plaque below your gum line where bacteria cause infection. However, RSD alone is not always enough to kill all the bacteria that cause gum disease.

The anatomy of the gum and other mechanical obstacles though limit the efficacy of RSD in pockets that are more than 5 mm deep. In pockets this deep, it is nearly impossible to completely eradicate the bacterial flora and inflammation.

Your dentist may have suggested PerioChip, a locally administered antibacterial medicine that is NOT an antibiotic. PerioChip contains chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) in a soft gel chip and is inserted into the pocket. It slowly releases this effective antibacterial antiseptic into the pocket to kill any bacteria left behind after RSD, and keeps working over the next ten days. And it does not need to be removed as it dissolves naturally.

Antibiotic treatments are sometimes recommended, but these carry the risk of antibiotic resistance. Also, treating an infection without first examining it the bacteria for antibiotic sensitivity may render the treatment useless. That is why PerioChip is a current gold standard adjunct therapy preferred by most doctors to treat gum disease.

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PerioChip FAQ

Would you like to know more about how PerioChip works and how it can help you patients? Check these Frequently Asked Questions to find out more about making PerioChip part of your clinical practice.

What is the clinical indication for using PerioChip?

PerioChip is indicated as an adjunct to RSD for reduction of pocket depth (PD) in patients with adult periodontitis with PD of 5 mm or more. PerioChip should be used as part of a medium to long-term periodontal treatment and maintenance plan.
PerioChip has been studied in pockets of between 5 and 8 mm in depth, and is indicated for use in pockets of 5 mm or more.

How does PerioChip work?

PerioChip is inserted into periodontal pockets with a depth of at least 5 mm after RSD. The periodontal pocket fills with saliva and triggers PerioChip to gradually dissolve completely. This allows free circulation of chlorhexidine gluconate throughout the pocket. 40% of the dose is released within 24 hours; the remaining 60% over the next 10 days killing any remaining bacteria and suppressing bacterial flora regrowth.

Can more than one PerioChip be inserted for a tooth that has more than one pocket?

Yes. In a tooth that has both distal and mesial pockets, a PerioChip may be inserted on each side of that tooth. In the UK there is no limit of maximum chips that can be placed at one time.

Does PerioChip need to be removed?

No. PerioChip biodegrades completely over the period of 7 to 10 days, therefore there is no need to remove it.

Is RSD alone good enough?

RSD eliminates the cause of periodontitis and reduces inflammation. However, it has limited efficacy in pockets deeper than 5 mm. PerioChip is not a replacement for RSD. It is an ideal targeted adjunctive therapy.

Has PerioChip been clinically proven more effective than RSD alone?

The results of clinical studies have shown that patients who were treated with PerioChip (chlorhexidine digluconate) 2.5mg after RSD experienced a statistically significant reduction in pocket depth at nine months versus patients who were treated with RSD alone*.

Why is PerioChip better than Chlorhexidine mouthwash?

Chlorhexidine digluconate mouthwash is effective in reaching surface areas. However, anatomical and mechanical limitations adversely affect the ability of the rinse to reach the site of infection in pockets of 5 mm or greater. PerioChip is uniquely designed to be delivered directly to the target site, at the required depth.

Why is PerioChip preferred over antibiotic therapy?

In general, the use of antibiotics should be limited due to the threat of worldwide antibiotic resistance. PerioChip's 36% antiseptic chlorhexidine digluconate has an antibacterial effect in the pocket for up to 3 months, suppressing bacteria and allowing clinical re-attachment to take place.
In a 6-month study of the PerioChip, microbiological examination by DNA probe of bacteria from periodontal pockets, showed a sharp decrease of micro-organisms presence,

How can PerioChip be used in maintenance care?

PerioChip can be used as part of a periodontal maintenance programme. It should be used after RSD, and the site should be monitored when the patient returns for follow-up visits every three months. At such time, if the pocket is deeper than 5 mm, another PerioChip can be inserted.

How often can PerioChip be inserted?

PerioChip can be inserted once every three months in pockets with probing depth of 5mm or more. PerioChip should be incorporated into routine maintenance (adjunctive) periodontal treatment, which includes good oral hygiene along with RSD.

Does PerioChip have any adverse side effects?

No long-term adverse events have been documented. Chlorhexidine digluconate has a good clinical safety profile although allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis have been reported, but have not been caused by PerioChip.