Reviewed By Dr. Mike Bahman Norouzinia, DDS
Periodontal maintenance is ongoing professional care for patients who have been treated for periodontal disease. These visits help control harmful bacteria, monitor the gums, and protect the bone and tissues supporting the teeth.
Ongoing Care After Gum Disease Treatment
Periodontal disease is a chronic condition that can return or progress even after active treatment has improved the health of the gums. Periodontal maintenance is designed to preserve those treatment results and identify changes before additional damage occurs.
Maintenance may begin after scaling and root planing, osseous surgery, or another form of periodontal treatment. It combines a specialized cleaning with an evaluation of the gums, periodontal pockets, tooth stability, and supporting bone.
Periodontal Maintenance vs. Regular Cleaning
A regular dental cleaning is preventive care for patients who have healthy gums or mild gingivitis. It primarily removes plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces and along the gumline.
Periodontal maintenance is intended for patients with a history of periodontal disease. The cleaning extends below the gumline and into areas where periodontal pockets have formed. The gums are also monitored for bleeding, inflammation, recession, and other signs that the condition may be returning.
Once a patient has been diagnosed with periodontal disease, regular cleanings may no longer provide the level of care needed to manage the condition.
What Happens During a Periodontal Maintenance Appointment?
Periodontal maintenance appointments are designed to monitor your periodontal health and help prevent gum disease from returning after treatment.
During your visit, your gums will be evaluated for signs of inflammation, bleeding, changes in pocket depth, gum recession, and tooth mobility. Plaque and tartar that have accumulated above and below the gumline will be removed, with special attention given to areas that are more difficult to keep clean at home.
If new areas of active periodontal disease are identified, additional treatment, such as scaling and root planing, may be recommended rather than continuing with routine periodontal maintenance.
Recommended Maintenance Schedule
After gum disease has been treated, harmful bacteria can begin to repopulate below the gumline within a few months. For this reason, many patients are advised to have periodontal maintenance every three to four months rather than the six-month schedule typically recommended for routine dental cleanings.
The recommended schedule may depend on:
- The severity of the previous periodontal disease
- Current periodontal pocket depths
- The amount of bone loss
- Bleeding or inflammation
- Tobacco use
- Diabetes and other health conditions
- Home oral hygiene
- The response to previous treatment
Some patients alternate visits between their general dental office and periodontist. The providers coordinate care based on the patient’s periodontal needs.
The Importance of Consistent Periodontal Care
Periodontal maintenance does not reverse bone loss that has already occurred, but it can help prevent further damage. Consistent visits reduce bacterial buildup and allow small changes to be addressed before they develop into more serious problems.
Without regular maintenance, periodontal pockets may deepen and inflammation may return. Continued disease progression can contribute to additional gum recession, bone loss, loose teeth, and eventual tooth loss.
Patients may not notice early signs that periodontal disease has returned. Professional monitoring remains important even when the gums feel comfortable and appear healthy.
Supporting Your Periodontal Health at Home
Periodontal maintenance appointments are only one part of managing gum disease. Daily home care is essential for controlling plaque and bacteria between visits.
To help maintain healthy gums:
- Brush your teeth twice a day.
- Clean between your teeth every day using floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosser.
- Clean carefully around dental implants, bridges, and other restorations.
- Follow any oral hygiene recommendations provided during your periodontal visits.
Good home care, combined with regular periodontal maintenance appointments, helps reduce the risk of gum disease progressing or returning.
Helping You Maintain a Healthy Smile
Our team is committed to helping patients maintain healthy gums long after active periodontal treatment is complete. We take a personalized approach to periodontal maintenance, carefully monitoring your oral health at each visit and recommending care based on your individual needs.
By building long-term relationships with our patients and working closely with their general dentists, we help support healthy gums and lasting smiles.
FAQs
No. Scaling and root planing, commonly called a deep cleaning, treats active periodontal disease. Periodontal maintenance is the ongoing care provided after treatment to help keep the condition under control.
Appointment length depends on the condition of the gums, the amount of buildup present, and the areas that require attention. Many visits take approximately one hour, although treatment time varies by patient.
Many patients require ongoing periodontal maintenance because periodontal disease is a chronic condition. The recommended frequency may change if the gums remain stable, but continued monitoring is usually necessary.
Periodontal Maintenance in Highlands Ranch, CO
Dr. Norouzinia and the team at Highlands Ranch Periodontics & Implant Center provide personalized periodontal maintenance to help patients maintain healthy gums after treatment. Contact our office to schedule your next maintenance appointment.
To book an appointment at our periodontal office in Highlands Ranch, call (303) 683-1144 or visit us at 9090 Ridgeline Blvd #225, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129.