Periodontal Maintenance Procedure

While a regular dental cleaning every six months can be an effective way to prevent periodontal disease from developing for individuals who are in good oral health, this same level of cleaning is not adequate for individuals who have had periodontal disease, whose gums bleed easily, or whose gum pockets are deeper than 4 millimeters. If you meet any of these criteria, you need to schedule marin county periodontal maintenance at least every three or four months to maintain the health of your gum and bone. By removing all the tartar and plaque that have accumulated above and below your gum line, getting professional cleanings, and having regular diagnostic examinations, you will significantly improve your oral health and practically eliminate the possibility of periodontal disease from developing again.

During your periodontal maintenance procedures, you can generally expect the cleaning to be conducted in the following stages:

• Supragingival cleaning: The area above your gum line is cleaned with scaling tools in order to remove calculus and plaque.
• Subgingival cleaning: Next, they will remove bacteria and calculus that have formed in the pockets of your gums beneath the gum line. For patients with periodontal disease, this is the step that will make the biggest difference in halting its progression.
• Root planing: Once the bacteria and calculus have been removed, the root of the tooth is smoothed in order to eliminate dangerous bacteria that can cause your oral health to diminish.
• Medication: Oftentimes antimicrobial or antibiotic cream will be placed in your gum pockets following the scaling and root planing procedure in order to facilitate the healing process and alleviate any discomfort you may be experiencing.
• X-ray and examination: Although routine X-rays are not generally necessary for patients who have healthy teeth and gums, they are recommended for patients with periodontal disease, as the X-ray will show the extent of gum and bone recession and help your periodontist identify any areas that may require additional attention.

Because bacterial formation on the gum and teeth is constantly occurring, and because it generally takes bad bacteria around three months to form, periodontal maintenance is strongly encouraged at least every three or four months. By removing harmful bacteria under the gumline on a frequent basis, you can prevent inflammation from developing and avoid the breakdown of the gum and bone that support your teeth. Although gum disease cannot be reversed completely, the best way to stop the progressive destructive nature of it is to schedule regular periodontal maintenance.

Taking Care of Your Oral Health Between Visits

The most important thing you can do between visits and to ensure that the frequency of visits can be extended is to take excellent care of your teeth every single day. This means committing to brushing and flossing twice daily and taking additional steps, such as using a waterpik or antimicrobial mouthwash. Provided you take these proactive measures in addition to sticking with regular cleanings and/or periodontal maintenance, you will reduce your risk of developing periodontal disease and continue to enjoy a bright, healthy smile. Not only that, you will also reduce your risk of other health issues related to periodontal disease, such as diabetes, heart disease, and more.

More on Periodontal Maintenance : Periodontal Maintenance vs Dental Cleaning