Periodontal Maintenance

Following therapy, regular cleanings are vital to maintaining periodontal health. Maintenance, along with meticulous oral hygiene, are the keys to good oral health. Studies have shown people who do not maintain cleaning regularly have 20 times the risk of more bone loss as those who do.

For cases where there are some residual pockets deeper than 4mm, or where the patient has shown a high susceptibility to breakdown, three month (or more frequent) recalls are critical. In these cases where the patient cannot reach all areas with oral hygiene techniques, bacteria form colonies (plaque) immediately after treatment.

Normally, however, it takes plaque about three months to develop into an aggressive infection. The first three months there is minimal bone loss, but after ninety days the breakdown dramatically increases. If the plaque is removed every three months, the plaque aggressiveness will stay low.

3 month recalls reduce bone loss

At the periodontal maintenance appointment the following procedures are generally performed:

• Update of medical and dental history
• Soft tissue cancer exam
• Clinical decay examination
• Clinical periodontal examination
• Review of oral hygiene
• Scaling above the gum level
• Root planing under the gum level as needed
• Administration of fluoride as needed
• Polishing
• Doctor check
• Confirmation of recall frequency and scheduling of next appointment

(Full mouth radiographs, which show the entire root surface, are taken every 3 years to determine if the bone level is stable. See Dental X-Rays)

An important observation at a periodontal maintenance appointment is whether the tissues bleed when probed. If there is no bleeding, the mouth is generally considered healthy. If there is bleeding, and it is seen on several subsequent recalls, addition treatment in that area is warranted. A change of the bone level as seen on X-rays also requires attention.

The periodontal maintenance appointment should be comfortable and pleasant. For patients who need help relaxing, we have streaming XM/Sirius radio with headsets and the more traditional individual walkman radio and CD headsets. Cable television glasses are also available.