Periodontal maintenance, also known as preventive periodontal prophylaxis, supportive periodontal treatment or periodic dental cleaning, is an essential part of obtaining and retaining dental health. All patients, including those who have been treated for periodontal disease, patients who have never had periodontal disease and even patients who have had teeth replaced with dental implants, benefit from this treatment.
It is a well-established fact that tooth decay, periodontal disease and many problems with dental implants are caused by bacterial accumulations on the teeth and gums. Even meticulous home care practiced by the most motivated patients, leaves areas of hidden plaque accumulation.
The longer plaque remains on the teeth, the more likely it is to harden into calculus, requiring professional removal. This calculus harbors food products, bacteria and toxic bacterial materials that damage adjacent gums, supporting bone and teeth, if not removed in time. The frequency for periodontal maintenance varies for each individual and is generally between 3 and 6 months. The effectiveness of home plaque removal, success of previous treatment and susceptibility to disease recurrence effect the maintenance interval. Other factors such as health status, cigarette smoking and taking certain drugs can increase the need for frequent professional prophylaxis.
During your one-hour visit, our experienced, skilled hygienists review your medical history and update your records. Dental radiographs (X-rays) are assessed and updated if they are not current. Next, your teeth and gums will be meticulously evaluated, then cleaned with a personalized regimen using instruments, ultrasonic machines and polishers. If necessary, we use special materials to decrease tooth and gum sensitivity and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to reduce anxiety to insure comfort during your appointment.
If periodontal pockets are noted to increase or become infected, a variety of options are available. In consultation with your periodontist, the hygienist might recommend treatment with localized antibiotics, non-surgical or surgical periodontal therapy. If teeth are noted to have decay, failing fillings or deteriorating restorations, we will immediately alert your dentist of the condition to allow early, conservative correction. We often encourage our patients to rotate their dental prophylaxis visits with their dentists to allow more critical monitoring of teeth and restorations. “Alternating maintenance” is usually adequate to maintain healthy teeth and gums for most patients as long as they stay on schedule with both our office and the dentist’s office. Dental implants also need periodic maintenance to stay healthy. Much like natural teeth, bacterial plaque and calculus can deposit on the implants and associated crowns, bridges and attachments. Unlike teeth, they are no longer susceptible to decay, but can be severely damaged by bacterially induced bone loss.
We pride ourselves on our maintenance services and often are told that our patients “have never had a better cleaning anywhere”! In fact, many patients who are dentally healthy and have never needed our corrective services use our hygienists for our outstanding preventive dental services. We firmly believe that meticulous home care combined with periodic, thorough professional maintenance can prevent periodontal disease or its recurrence!
