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Estero · Bonita Springs, FL
Estero Bay Dental offers Arestin, an antibiotic placed in periodontal pockets, to patients in Estero and Bonita Springs, with Dr. Ivan Vigoa using it alongside scaling and root planing to support gum health.
Gum disease often develops quietly, with little or no pain, until it has already begun to affect the support around your teeth. Periodontal disease is a common cause of tooth loss, which is why catching it and treating it early matters.
At Estero Bay Dental, Dr. Ivan Vigoa and our Estero, FL team are a preventive-oriented practice. We evaluate your risk of gum disease and offer options to prevent or manage it, and for some patients that includes Arestin.
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is an infection of the gum line that causes inflammation and bleeding. Left untreated, gum disease can also cause the gums to recede and begin to pull away from the teeth. As a preventive-oriented practice, we want to find it early.
Arestin is a topical antibiotic placed in the gum pockets, the small spaces between the teeth and gums where the bacteria responsible for gum disease can collect. It is used along with scaling and root planing, which cleans the surfaces of the roots below the gumline. Its time-release formulation continues to work for several days after application.
You may be a candidate for Arestin if you are diagnosed with periodontal disease and your dentist recommends it as part of your plan. If you suspect that you could be suffering from gum disease, schedule an examination and consultation. Some patients may require additional treatments, and your dentist will explain what makes sense for you.
Arestin continues to work for several days after application. For this reason, you will need to avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods for the first week to 10 days after treatment. You should also eliminate flossing from your dental routine during this time. At the end of the treatment period, you may resume flossing. You are encouraged to stop smoking if applicable, as smoking can increase your risk of developing periodontal disease again in the future. A careful and hygienic dental routine supports your gum health.
Arestin is one tool among several. This table shows how it fits with other care we offer.
| Care | What It Does | Good To Know |
|---|---|---|
| Exams and cleanings | Removes plaque and tartar and lets us check your gums. | Helps us find early signs of gum disease. |
| Scaling and root planing | Cleans the root surfaces below the gumline. | Arestin is used along with it. |
| Arestin | A topical antibiotic placed in the gum pockets. | Time-release, working for several days after application. |
| Gum disease care | Addresses gum disease at the stage it is found. | Your plan depends on your exam findings. |
What you do between visits matters. These habits support your gum health after treatment.
| Habit | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods for the first week to 10 days | Arestin continues to work for several days after application. |
| Skip flossing during that period, then resume | Follows the aftercare instructions for Arestin. |
| Brush twice a day with a soft touch | Keeps plaque from building up along the gum line. |
| Stop smoking if applicable | Smoking can increase your risk of developing periodontal disease again. |
| Keep your preventive care visits | Lets us monitor your gums over time. |
For general information, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research explains the basics of gum disease.
Estero Bay Dental accepts several PPO insurance plans, and our team will review your benefits with you before treatment. You can read more on our insurance page. If you have no insurance, our Smile Program is a discount program that lists Arestin at a discount. We accept CareCredit and work with several financing partners, including Cherry Financing, to provide flexible options for paying the cost of treatment over time.
Our Estero office at 21740 S Tamiami Trail #111 welcomes patients from Estero, Bonita Springs, and nearby neighborhoods such as Pelican Landing, Pelican Sound, and Coconut Point. We are open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm and Friday from 8 am to 1 pm, and our team speaks both English and Spanish.
Here are answers to questions we often hear about Arestin.
Arestin is a topical antibiotic placed in the gum pockets, where bacteria responsible for gum disease can collect. At Estero Bay Dental, it is used along with scaling and root planing.
Its time-release formulation continues to work for several days after application. It is placed in the pockets between the teeth and gums, right where bacteria collect.
Your dentist may recommend it if you are diagnosed with periodontal disease. Our Estero team will explain whether it makes sense for your exam findings.
It is used along with scaling and root planing, which cleans the root surfaces below the gumline. Some patients may require additional treatments, and your dentist will tell you what to expect.
You will need to avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods for the first week to 10 days after treatment. You should also skip flossing during this time.
At the end of the treatment period of about a week to 10 days, you may resume flossing. Our team will confirm the timing with you at your visit.
Smoking can increase your risk of developing periodontal disease again in the future, so you are encouraged to stop if applicable. Our team in Estero, FL can talk with you about it.
Signs can include bleeding, red or swollen gums, and gums that pull away from the teeth. Some people have no symptoms, so a regular exam is the best way to check.
Coverage varies by plan, and we accept several PPO plans. Our team will review your benefits, and patients without insurance can ask about our Smile Program discount program or our financing options.
If your gums bleed, look swollen, or have been pulling away from your teeth, our Estero, FL team is ready to take a look. We proudly serve patients throughout Estero, Bonita Springs, and the surrounding Southwest Florida communities. We invite you to contact our office or request an appointment to schedule your visit.
Dr. Vigoa holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree along with licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist and a Registered Nurse, and completed a two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at NYU Langone. Originally from Cuba, he is fully fluent in Spanish and welcomes patients from all cultural backgrounds.
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