![]() ![]() Supragingival cleaning – Our dental hygienists or dentists will thoroughly clean the area above the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and calculus. What Does Periodontal Maintenance Involve? Keeping the gums and the bone surrounding your teeth as healthy as possible is an important part of your regular dental visits. ![]() There is also a relationship between chronic inflammation in the gums and the overall health of your body, especially heart disease and diabetes. The bacteria travel through the bloodstream, causing infections to other body parts. The voids between the teeth and gums deepen, and more bacteria accumulate inside. Consequently, the body starts destroying bone and gum tissue causing the teeth to fall out, shift or become unstable. The colonies cause irritation and inflammation, which create an inflammatory response inside the body. Bacteria produced by plaque may colonize on the gum tissue resulting in gingivitis and periodontal disease. Maintenance is crucial as it prevents periodontal disease from spreading. This is a chronic condition that can be controlled with good oral home care and regular maintenance but cannot be “cured,” which is why it is so important to come in regularly. Once you’ve been diagnosed with periodontal disease, you will always have periodontal disease, which means you will have to continue to come in for your periodontal maintenance cleanings. Periodontal Disease is a Chronic Condition PM is usually performed three to four times a year depending on several factors: how quickly the plaque and tartar accumulate, how much bleeding or inflammation is present, how stable the present condition is, how well you are able to maintain your teeth at home on a daily basis, and any health risk factors you may have. Periodontal maintenance is considered a basic service by your insurance carrier and may be subject to a yearly deductible. Rough areas of the roots are smoothed if needed, pocket depths are carefully monitored, and inflamed pockets may be irrigated with antibacterial medicines if necessary. This procedure includes removal of plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line, all the way down the length of each tooth to where the root, gum, and bone meet. Periodontal maintenance scaling is needed to maintain gum and bone health. If you have periodontal disease that has resulted in bone loss, gum “pockets” deeper than 4 millimeters, bleeding gums, exposed root surfaces, or if you have had periodontal surgery or root planing to treat periodontal disease, a regular cleaning is not appropriate. It is considered a preventive procedure by your insurance carrier since regular cleanings will help prevent periodontal disease. A regular cleaning, or prophylaxis, removes soft plaque, tartar, and stains from the teeth above the gum line, and only slightly below.Ī regular cleaning is usually done two to three times a year, depending on how quickly stain, plaque, and tartar accumulate. In other words, the mouth should be healthy with no bone or gum problems. There should be no bleeding, mobility of the teeth, receded areas, or gaps where the spaces around the roots of the teeth are exposed. ![]() If your dentist or hygienist has recommended you be scheduled for periodontal maintenance or if you have noticed there is a difference in billing for these procedures, here is a brief explanation: Prophylaxis or Regular CleaningĪ regular cleaning, also called a prophylaxis, is recommended for patients who do not have bone loss, periodontal disease, or infection around the teeth. ![]() Patients often ask why they are having “periodontal maintenance” when all they want is to have their teeth cleaned. ![]()
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