What is Periodontal Maintenance?
Home care is an extremely important part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums, but even excellent home care cannot prevent bacteria and plaque. If the plaque is not removed, it can harden, becoming calculus. We will recommend a periodontal maintenance program that is best for you based on how quickly you develop calculus and your past and current periodontal health. During your maintenance visits we will perform an oral examination as well as a dental cleaning.
During an oral examination, a visual inspection is performed to detect normal and abnormal structures of the entire mouth, head and neck. Along with radiographs, an examination detects cavities, abnormalities in existing dental restorations, gum and bone recession and any other abnormal findings within the mouth, head and neck
A dental cleaning, also known as an oral prophylaxis, is the removal of dental plaque and tartar (calculus) from the teeth. Specialized instruments are used to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth. First, an ultrasonic device that emits vibrations and is cooled by water is used to loosen larger pieces of tartar. Next, hand tools are used to manually remove smaller deposits and smooth the tooth surfaces.
Benefits of Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal maintenance provides the following benefits:
- Prevents gum disease from returning. The biggest benefit and the overall purpose of periodontal maintenance is that it prevents gum disease from returning after treatment.
- Save time and money. By keeping gum disease from returning you avoid having to repeat the same treatments you have already been through, which saves you both time and money.
- Protect your teeth. Keeping gum disease at bay protects your teeth, allowing them to stay in place in your mouth. Severe, untreated gum disease can eventually lead to loose and even dislodged teeth.
- Preserve your bone health. Chronic gum disease causes damage to the support structures for your teeth, including the bone in your jaw. Periodontal maintenance prevents further damage and deterioration of your jaw bone.
Are You a Good Candidate for Periodontal Maintenance?
Your dentist or periodontist may recommend periodontal maintenance for a variety of reasons. If you’ve had recurring gum disease that has impacted your oral health, you may be a good candidate for periodontal maintenance. Certain factors may put you at a greater risk of developing gum disease, such as diabetes, poor oral hygiene, a high sugar diet, or smoking. Periodontal maintenance can significantly lower your risk.
Why Choose Leading Edge Specialized Dentistry?
Leading Edge Specialized Dentistry specializes in the treatment and prevention of gum disease. It is one of the most common oral health conditions that we see in patients. If you’ve come to us, it is likely because you have persistent gum disease that has been difficult to manage. But with periodontal maintenance we can put a stop to the cycle of gum disease.