Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal maintenance is a therapy that prevents gum disease and disease in the bone that supports your teeth. It helps to keep your periodontal disease under control after completing the treatment. You will be provided with an effective maintenance program to keep your gums healthy.
A diligent home oral care regime should be combined with regularly scheduled maintenance therapy visits with your dentist. This will increase your prospects of retaining your teeth for your lifetime. Periodontal maintenance is mandatory every few months for a patient diagnosed with periodontal disease.
Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal maintenance is a therapy that prevents gum disease and disease in the bone that supports your teeth. It helps to keep your periodontal disease under control after completing the treatment. You will be provided with an effective maintenance program to keep your gums healthy.
A diligent home oral care regime should be combined with regularly scheduled maintenance therapy visits with your dentist. This will increase your prospects of retaining your teeth for your lifetime. Periodontal maintenance is mandatory every few months for a patient diagnosed with periodontal disease.
Why Is Periodontal Maintenance Important?
Our oral cavity is vulnerable to decay and gum disease. The root cause of gum infections is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that forms on your teeth. The bacteria in this plaque release toxins that attack your gums and teeth relentlessly. When the harmful plaque is not removed, it hardens into a rugged, porous deposit called tartar.
Daily brushing and flossing will help decrease the formation of tartar but will not eliminate it. Regardless of proper oral hygiene practices and professional cleanings, bacterial plaque can still cause gum diseases. Therefore, tartar must be cleaned off and the gums diagnosed regularly to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
What Is Included In Periodontal Maintenance?
A periodontal maintenance program may include the following measures:
- A discussion of any “events” in your health history
- An examination of your mouth tissues for abnormal changes
- A review of your teeth for decay and other dental problems
- A measurement of the depth of pockets around your teeth
- An assessment of your oral hygiene practices and provision of instruction
- The removal of bacterial plaque and tartar
- Dental X-rays to assess your teeth and the bone supporting your teeth
- An analysis of the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- An application of appropriate medication to reduce tooth sensitivity
- Prescription for other minor dental issues
How Often Should You Undertake Periodontal Maintenance?
The frequency of periodontal maintenance visits will depend on your gum condition. The gap between your scheduled periodontal care visits might be as often as every few weeks or as frequent as every six months. The situation will be different for everybody. The factors that should be considered for the frequency of your supportive care visits will be based on your:
- The kind of periodontal disease you suffer from
- The type of periodontal treatment you are undergoing
- The response of your gums towards the treatment
- The rate of plaque growth
- Strict adherence to good oral care at home
Call us at Sedro-Woolley Family Dental Center in Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 at (360) 855-0351, and schedule an appointment if you need a regular cleaning or periodontal maintenance.