What is Periodontal Maintenance?

What is Periodontal Maintenance?

Periodontal‌ maintenance is continuing care provided to help control the recurrence of gum disease after you have received an initial periodontal treatment․ Once the bacteria have caused inflammation or even destruction to the tissues around your teeth‚ conventional cleanings are no longer‌ sufficient․ Periodontal maintenance allows your dental health team to monitor any potential changes in your‌ gums and provide additional cleaning in areas where bacteria and tartar amass․

Gum disease starts with plaque around the teeth that can make the tissue around the teeth red and‌ swollen․ If not removed‚ the plaque turns into tartar and pockets around the teeth become‌ deeper․ If present‚ bacteria in periodontal pockets below the gumline cannot be removed by home care regimens; therefore‚ periodontal therapy is a treatment strategy designed to remove these pockets and control periodontal‌ disease․

Your first visit may include a periodontal evaluation of the status of your gums‚‌ including bleeding‚ inflammation‚ recession, and changes in depth of your periodontal pockets․ Your‌ dentist may compare the results with prior measurements to determine whether your gums are responding well or if you need further periodontal care․

Cleaning is also an important part of the visit and includes the removal of any plaque and tartar from the surface of teeth‚‌ including below the gumline․ This decreases or eliminates the bacteria that cause the‌ inflammation․ Depending on your condition‚ your hygienist may spend more time cleaning areas‌ where plaque is more likely․

How often you‌ need periodontal maintenance depends on your periodontal history․ But‚ in some cases‚ as‌ often as every three months․ Your dentist will consider the severity‌ of any previous gum disease you may have had‚ your response to treatment‚ and how well you maintain your gums․

Home care is a meaningful part of prevention between appointments․ Effective plaque control is achieved through twice-a-day tooth brushing of the surfaces of teeth accessible by a toothbrush‚ and regularly cleaning between teeth․ Your dentist can also suggest additional tools, like interdental brushes, that best fit the shape of the spaces between your teeth‚ the health of your gums‚ and any existing dental work․

Periodontal maintenance appointments are especially important because gum disease does not cause pain and can exist without any symptoms․ Your gums may look and feel healthy‚ but disease-causing bacteria may be building up under the gum line․ Regular examinations also allow changes in the tooth and surrounding structures to be detected before they affect the supporting bone and teeth․

Periodontal maintenance is not a substitute for therapy‚ and if there are any signs of increased inflammation‚ deeper pockets, or other unfavorable changes‚ periodontal therapy would be recommended․ Regular visits make it easier to respond to such changes in a timely manner․

Frequent professional cleanings‚ proper home oral hygiene‚ and regular evaluation can help maintain good periodontal health․ It is best to consult your dental provider to determine how often and what measures would best help protect your teeth․

If you have more questions about periodontal maintenance or how it could help you achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see if periodontal maintenance is a part of the best treatment plan for you.

Related Article: How Much Does Periodontal Maintenance Cost?