We are a family dentist in Palatka, FL, which means our focus is on finding the most effective ways of treating families dealing with dental challenges. One of our commitments is to find relief for discomfort as quickly as possible, especially when dealing with younger or elderly members of your family. Often, we have to reach into our tool box and pull out one of the most powerful tools that any dentist, including your family dentist in Palatka, FL, has at their disposal for fighting the microorganisms causing your problems. Antibiotics have made a huge impact on medicine, including dental medicine, since penicillin was first discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. Since then, we have used antibiotics to successfully remove all kinds of bacterial infections, and this has allowed modern medicine to make huge leaps of advancement in all kinds of treatments.
As with any great cure, however, there are limitations. When you come in to see your family dentist in Palatka, FL, one thing you can expect is this: While we have antibiotics as an option and it could never be taken off the table due to its effectiveness, it is often not our go-to option. We tend to ask the question, “Are antibiotics needed?” rather than, “Which antibiotics are needed?” when addressing any problem our patients have. This is because we are very aware that overuse of antibiotics can cause more problems than they can solve. Recently, there has been a great deal of news about antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms that have been found in increasing numbers across the medical spectrum. This situation has arisen in part due to the over-proliferation of antibiotics, which has allowed bacteria to develop a resistance to them. Our goal is to make sure that when we prescribe an antibiotic, it is because it is absolutely necessary, and that it is a targeted approach that ends up being very successful.
Sometimes as a family dentist in Palatka FL, we have to educate our patients that antibiotics, while an outstanding option, are not the only option. Often, people believe they can solve all their problems with a dose of these medications, and for good reason. When we do prescribe antibiotics, they have almost an immediate effect. Fevers associated with an infection, pain or discomfort, and even swelling because of the infection are very quick to go away, which gives the patient relief. There is little wonder that people want an antibiotic treatment. What is important to remember, however, is that antibiotics are designed to control the infection and restore a balance between your natural immunity and the invading infection. Once this happens, your body is able to quickly regroup, and it is your body's own antibodies that will kill the infection. In fact, in 60 perfect of infection situations, there is no need for any kind of interference or introduction of a foreign substance; your body will take care of the problem all by itself. In other words, antibiotics aren't the greatest fighter of infection, your body is.
