Periodontal Maintenance Video:
If you have been diagnosed and treated for periodontal disease, Dr.
Lepore will recommend what is called periodontal maintenance therapy to
keep the disease under control (maintained). There are some important
differences between this and a routine dental cleaning that are
important to understand.
A routine dental cleaning (prophy) is designed for prevention, it is
not therapeutic. It is also referred to in our practice as a “healthy
mouth cleaning.” It’s purpose is to help keep gum disease and tooth
decay from developing. A healthy mouth cleaning typically takes place
every 6 months, however more frequent cleanings are beneficial.
However, periodontal maintenance therapy is meant for treating
patients who’ve already been diagnosed with periodontal (gum) disease to
control it and prevent it from worsening. This type of cleaning is
typically recommended every 3-4 months for those who have undergone
scaling and root planing, also referred to as a deep cleaning.
What is a periodontal maintenance cleaning?
A periodontal maintenance cleaning involves your dental hygienist performing a thorough cleaning above and
below the gumline, in which harmful plaque and bacterial buildup that
has occurred since your last visit, is removed. It takes about 12 days
for soft sticky plaque to turn into the calculus that builds up above
and below your gum tissue.
The benefits of a periodontal maintenance cleaning include: fresher breath, plaque and calculus removal, and a healthier looking and feeling smile!
What else can you do to improve your oral health?
Our philosophy at Lepore Comprehensive Dentistry is complete health. We are now offering:
Regular cleaning (prophy) vs. Periodontal maintenance cleaning video:
Is there a cure for gum disease?
The most important part of any periodontal therapy, such as a deep cleaning, is the continued maintenance visits to prevent the disease from returning to an “active state”. It is often misunderstood that periodontal disease can be “cured”. In fact, it is often compared to diabetes. Both can be improved and maintained but never cured. Missing regularly scheduled periodontal maintenance appointments can have you at risk for further bone loss, gum loss, and inflammation, not only in the mouth, but the rest of your body. Dr. Lepore and your dental hygienist will work with you to create a maintenance schedule that best suits your unique needs.
