Inventors:
Takashi Hanioka - Suita-Osaka, JP
Judson T. McRee - Lockhart TX
Karl Folkers - Austin TX
Assignee:
Biomedical and Clinical Research - Austin TX
International Classification:
A61K 716
US Classification:
424 49, 424435, 424440, 424 941, 514690
Abstract:
The presence of diverse microorganisms in the gingiva of patients having periodontal disease is very well known to be deleterious to gingival health, and particularly to facilitate the appearance and development of dental cavities. Such microorganisms are always associated with periodontal disease, and if such microorganisms remain unchecked or uncontrolled, extraction of teeth are likely to occur. In the past, the presence of microorganisms in the gingiva of patients with periodontal disease has been periodically and erratically treated with anti-microbial agents, including antibiotics. For anti-microbial agents and antibiotics to be effective in the gingiva, such agents and antibiotics must come into direct contact with microorganisms, and such contact is known to be incomplete, partly because there may be barriers of fluid and tissue which prevent direct contact between the agents and antibiotics with the microorganisms. Also, such agents can be inactive for certain microorganisms and even when there is activity, such microorganisms can become metabolically resistant to the agents and antibiotics. A more effective way to reduce and to control microorganisms in the gingiva of patients with periodontal disease is to increase the efficacy of the immune system of the host.