Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal Disease is similar to other chronic diseases, such as Diabetes. The key to control is early diagnosis and treatment, followed by prompt ongoing treatment. This entails periodontal maintenance procedures (PMP) or supportive periodontal therapy. PMP will help in gaining control of the disease and increase your chances of keeping your teeth.
If not cleaned out every 3-4 months, this periodontal bacteria can grow to a point where bone loss starts to occur again. This is why 3-4 month periodontal cleanings are very important.
Periodontal Maintenance Visit
Your Periodontal Maintenance visit will include:
- An update of your medical & dental history
- A periodontal examination & measurement of your periodontal pockets
- An oral cancer screening
- Tooth root cleaning & polishing
- Oral hygiene instructions
Team Approach
We work together with your general dentist as a team to provide you with the best possible care. Many times periodontal cleanings will be alternated between our office and your general dentist. During the cleaning at your general dentist’s office, they will concentrate on what is happening with your teeth above the gum line. When you see our office, we will concentrate mostly on what is happening below the gums.
On-going PMP treatments in our office and dental visits and cleanings with your dentist will ensure your optimum oral health and highest possible care.
To prevent re-infection and avoid more periodontal treatment, it is quite important that you follow the periodontal maintenance program set out by your periodontist and your general dentist.
How is Periodontal Disease Treated?
Upper Level Infection Removal
The upper level of infection in the pockets around your teeth can be removed using specialized instruments. This procedure is called, “Scaling and Root Planing”, “Phase One Treatment” or “Initial Therapy”. It is done under local anesthesia and is quite different from the routine dental cleaning or “deep cleaning” that is traditionally done in the general dentist’s office.
Lower Level Infection Removal
If your infection has spread into the bone that supports your teeth, and is below the level that can be reached in “Upper Level Infection Removal”, then a surgical procedure must be performed to retract the gums and remove the lower level infection.
When periodontal disease reaches this lower level, it dissolves the bone around the teeth and can lead to bone loss. Once the infection has been removed, we repair the damaged area with a procedure called Bone Grafting.