How Much Does Arestin Cost?

Arestin is a concentrated, locally applied antibiotic powder for gum infections and diseases that can be purchased only with a prescription.

This is an FDA-approved antibiotic that is recommended for periodontal diseases for scaling and planning the tartar and plaque from the teeth with issues. Arestin is known to be the most effective prescription drug which can clear your tooth from bacteria in under 21 days.

This antibiotic is made from microspheres not visible to the human eye, smaller than a grain of sand. The microscopic particles contain antibiotics called minocycline hydrochloride, which is thought to be the most effective treatment for gum infections.

Arestin is a prescription drug that will not be absorbed into the bloodstream like usual antibiotics, It is applied directly on the affected tooth in the periodontal pocket, where it gradually dispenses the medicine. While it does so, it will also sterilize the periodontal pocket, enabling the immune system to recover and decreasing inflammation.

How much does Arestin cost?

The cost of Arestin is anywhere from $35 to $115 per site. This price will depend on your geographical location, the dental office you go to, the severity of the periodontal disease, and whether you have health insurance or not. Take into consideration that one tooth may have multiple sites and this will be another factor that will affect your overall budget.

Per quadrant, a dentist charges on average somewhere between $80 and $250 and even more, depending on the number and the depth of the pockets located in that area and the condition of the gums. However, these costs are factored in without health coverage.

One member of the Quora.com forum claimed that her doctor charged her $284 for the Arestin treatment, and the insurance does not cover her bill.

Another online source had a member state that the cost of Arestin can be from $75 to $200 per tooth, considering several factors including the severity of the gum disease and your location.

A Dental Hygienist stated on a LinkedIn post that the average cost of Arestin is around $100. He also stated that there are six sites per tooth, so if all the sites need Arestin to be applied you can expect to pay $600 per tooth.

PerioPeak.com claims that the cost of injecting Arestin under the diseased gum will cost anywhere from $35 to $110 per site and the cost can increase if there are multiple sites to treat in one quadrant.

You might also like our articles about the cost of dental implants, dental crowns, or dental crown reattachments.

PharmacyChecker.com listed several pharmacies from across the United States and their costs for one cartridge of 1mg of Arestin. The prices start from $102.43 per cartridge at Stop&Shop and go up to $109.32 per cartridge at Walgreens. Take into consideration that these costs are coupon-discounted and can vary depending on your region.

According to InsideRX.com, the cost of one cartridge of 1 mg of Arestin at Walmart is $120.49, while the cost of the same product at Costco is $121.99 per 1 mg cartridge.

BlinkHealth.com sells a pack of 20 cartridges of 1 mg of Arestin at the cost of $2,118.99. They state that you can pick up the order from your local pharmacy and it is mandatory to have a prescription.

On the JustAnswer.com website, a specialized dentist answered a member’s question about the cost of the Arestin treatment and stated that you can expect to pay anywhere from $30 up to $60 per site and between $85 to $105 per quadrant. He also stated that before applying the Arestin, a deep cleaning is needed which may cost around $340 per cleaning.

According to LinkedIn.com, several dental hygienists claimed that the cost for Arestin can be anywhere from $40 to $70 per tooth.

Arestin prices

Arestin fights gum disease

Arestin is a prescripted antibiotic that serves for periodontal diseases. Based on tetracycline antibiotic, Arestin is injected under the infected gum, where the bone, ligaments, and tooth are damaged.

The Arestin medicine is known to be one of the most effective antibiotics, it is made from minocycline and can eliminate the bacteria from periodontal disease, even in a small dose. Made from a microsphere powder-like substance, the Arestin is applied to the periodontal pocket depth or beneath the gum through a painless procedure.

Before starting the treatment, the dentist will evaluate your gums to determine if they are infected or damaged due to periodontal disease. If the evaluation shows any issues, they will perform scaling and root planning as a first step before administering the antibiotic. This helps ensure the effectiveness of the treatment.

Once the doctor locates the affected tooth or teeth, an exact dose of Arestin will be calculated, depending on the damage that the periodontal disease caused. The specific dose is applied through a specific syringe, into the affected dental pocket. Combined with gingival crevicular fluid, the Arestin microspheres are dissolved empowering them to fix onto the adjacent surfaces directly. This procedure will allow the minocycline from the Arestin to be released over time, by creating channels full of water, in the microspheres.

Arestin is bioresorbable, eliminating the need for removal and allowing for extended activity in the periodontal pocket.

What are the extra costs?

Most dentists recommend a scaling and rooting planning (SRP) first, which is a deep cleaning, followed by an Arestin treatment. For a procedure such as the SRP, you should expect to pay somewhere between $250 to $420 per cleaning.

Depending on how many sites from the periodontal pocket were affected, the cost will increase.

Important things about this antibiotic

According to clinical studies, Arestin will reduce the size of periodontal pockets significantly more than a mechanical debridement procedure alone. Specialists confirm that applying Arestin after debridement is more effective in treating periodontal disease.

Consider talking to your dentist about possible allergies. Patients who have allergies to tetracycline or minocycline antibiotics are not recommended to proceed with this treatment. Also, pregnant or nursing women and children are prone to develop a permanent discoloration of the tooth or teeth, depending on where the medication is applied.

Arestin application does not need any kind of anesthesia, and when applied it will not cause pain or discomfort. The treatment doesn’t need any needles to be used.

This antibiotic does not need to be removed by a dental professional due to its property of being absorbed naturally in the gums.

Arestin does not need any coverage or bandage after being applied. It will not fall or leak.

Many professional dentists recommend the use of Arestin in conjunction with the scaling and root planing for a periodontal maintenance regimen. Specialists say that Arestin is able to fight periodontitis or periodontal infection up to 21 days after a mechanical debridement.

It is recommended to avoid hard-chewing food, as well as sticky or crunchy food in the week following an Arestin appliance. Also, in the next ten days, the patient has to avoid flossing or other tools for cleaning between the teeth that can harm the area.

According to one of the statements of Trish Walraven on the DentalBuzz.com blog, having Arestin recommended by your dentist on your first visit may be a red flag, as she says, may be a rip-off. Charging $300 for one Arestin placement is another red flag you should look out for.

As with any prescribed medication, Arestin may come with side effects. The most common side effects that Arestin may cause are dental pain, redness of the gums, chills, bleeding from the gums, fever, or toothache. However, some patients may experience some less common side effects such as painful sores, bad taste in the mouth, or issues with the lining of the mouth.

Health insurance, copay, and saving money

Depending on your specific problems and need of treatment the cost for Arestin will vary. After the doctor evaluates your dental health, they will offer some treatment options and an estimated cost. It is important to note that it is more cost-effective to treat your gums in the early stages rather than waiting until the symptoms become more advanced.

Arestin’s treatment is partially covered by most medical insurance plans, however, you should consult with your dental insurance to see whether you are covered or not, and to what degree.

There are several printable discount coupons online for Arestin treatment. However, some of these are available only for patients who are under health insurance coverage.

Keep in mind that there is a Patient Assitance Program (PAP), that is usually sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, in order to come to the help of uninsured or low-income patients with cost-free or discounted medicines. There are several factors of eligibility that patients have to meet. You can find helpful information about this on Drugs.com.