Periodontal Maintenance Procedure

For patients who have received treatment for periodontal disease or other periodontal issues such as bone loss or dental implants, periodontal maintenance is the type of cleaning that they need to prevent periodontal disease from recurring. Periodontal maintenance is more involved than a regular prophylactic cleaning and is usually done every 3 to 4 months instead of every six months.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is a condition where tartar accumulates in the gum pockets between the teeth and gums, causing gum recession, bone loss, and eventually tooth loss. Tartar is simply calcified plaque and bacteria. When plaque is not regularly brushed and flossed away, it hardens and cannot be removed with brushing and flossing, so patients who have tartar buildup need to have their teeth professionally cleaned.

What is the procedure for periodontal maintenance?

Periodontal maintenance is mostly the same as a dental prophylaxis, but a prophylactic cleaning stays above the gum line. Periodontal maintenance cleans above and below the gum line, so it is a little more invasive, but it is not a cleaning that would cause discomfort.

When a patient has active periodontal disease and receives a scaling and root planing, the gum tissue in the area being treated is numbed with a local anesthetic so that the tools can reach as far into the pocket as they need to without causing pain. Periodontal maintenance is not as invasive as that.

Evaluation

Your dental hygienist will begin your periodontal maintenance appointment with an evaluation and oral cancer screening. They will likely palpate the outside of your throat and under your chin to feel for swollen lymph nodes, and then they will visually examine the inside of your mouth and throat, as well as all surfaces of your tongue.

If you need dental X-rays, they will be taken before the cleaning begins. X-rays help your hygienist identify any area where tartar is present below the gum line.

Cleaning

A lot of dental hygienists begin their cleaning procedure with an ultrasonic tool called a Cavitron. A Cavitron is a device that uses water and sound waves to vibrate plaque and tartar off of the surface of the tooth. After using the Cavitron, they will still use manual tools to fine-scale each tooth to make sure everything is clean.

Once scaling is complete, they will floss and polish. Polishing is the gritty pumice paste with the little spinning rubber head, and it is a great way to make sure everything is clean, smooth, and stain-free!

Dentist Exam

After all is said and done with your hygienist, your dentist will read your X-rays, if they were taken, and do a thorough exam, checking for any signs of disease, decay, or restoration wear.

Patients who receive periodontal maintenance are at higher risk of recurring periodontal disease, so it is vital for the health of the patient to keep up with their cleaning schedule and to notify their dentist and hygienist if anything changes. Periodontal disease is much more difficult – and expensive – to treat than it is to keep at bay. Speak with your dentist if you have any signs or symptoms of periodontal disease so that you can begin treatment as soon as possible to prevent any lasting damage.

Related Article: What is Periodontal Maintenance?