Periodontal Maintenance vs Regular Cleaning
While both periodontal maintenance and a dental cleaning visit are important‚ the two are different types of appointments because they treat different conditions․ Patients without a history of gum disease are generally healthy and differ from those who need periodontal maintenance․ Patients who have a history of gum disease require regular follow-ups․ Knowing this difference can help you understand why your dentist has recommended one type of appointment․
A regular dental cleaning, or a prophy cleaning, is preventive care where your dental hygienist will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth that brushing and flossing cannot remove․ Your teeth will typically be polished‚ and your dentist will also check your mouth for tooth decay‚ inflammation of the gums and signs of oral cancer․ If you are free of periodontitis‚ your dentist will often recommend that you return every six months․
Periodontal maintenance is a more specific type of appointment․ If you have been diagnosed with periodontitis or have had treatment for a serious gum infection‚ bacteria can still amass beneath the gumline․ These areas can be difficult to keep clean at home with regular brushing and flossing. During periodontal maintenance‚ the hygienist uses specialized instruments to clean teeth above and below the gumline․ More time is spent on areas of prior periodontal disease․
At the periodontal maintenance visit‚ the examination is more thorough than regular appointments․ The depth of the pockets around the teeth can be measured‚ bleeding and swelling of the gums can be evaluated‚ and current gum health can be compared to measurements taken during the previous visits․ Results from these tests may help determine whether the current treatment plan is effective or if you need a more aggressive approach․
The other difference is the frequency of cleanings - typically‚ for someone with healthy gums‚ cleanings are recommended at least twice a year․ However‚ if you have periodontal disease‚ your dentist may recommend periodontal maintenance cleanings every three to four months․ Seeing your dental team more often means bacteria can be removed and changes noticed before they become difficult to control․
Depending on the status of the gums‚ the periodontal maintenance may require more time and attention to detail due to gum recession or deeper pockets around the teeth․ Your hygienist will work carefully in these areas and do everything they can to keep you comfortable․
Remember that periodontal maintenance is not a deep cleaning‚ or scaling and root planing, nor should it be equated with the treatments during a routine exam․ Periodic cleaning appointments are preventative‚ while maintenance therapy is used to control periodontitis that has already been treated or to attempt to control a previously treated condition․
Regardless of the type of cleaning you receive‚ continuing good oral care at home is important․ Twice-daily brushing and flossing are necessary to control plaque between appointments for professional cleaning․ If you have periodontal disease‚ your dentist may recommend other tools or techniques based on the state of your gums․
If you have more questions about periodontal maintenance or how it could help you achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see if periodontal maintenance is a part of the best treatment plan for you.
Related Article: What is Dental Prophylaxis?