Periodontics
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Periodontal Maintenance
Supportive Periodontal Care
After our team has completed the active phase of your periodontal treatment, your periodontal disease will be under control and in a much more stable state. Our team will provide you with a personalized maintenance program of care, including regularly scheduled maintenance visits with one of our excellent hygienists to keep your gums as healthy as possible. Our team will also monitor your periodontal condition with a thorough annual examination.
Maintenance therapy is an ongoing program designed to prevent disease in the gum tissues and bone supporting your teeth. Adherence to a program of conscientious home oral care and regularly scheduled maintenance therapy visits with both our office and your general dentist’s office is very important. This will give you an excellent chance of keeping your teeth for a lifetime.
Why is supportive periodontal care important?
As you have learned, you are susceptible to gum disease. And, you have probably learned, too, that the main cause of gum disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth. The bacteria in this plaque produce toxins which constantly attack your gums and teeth. Unless plaque is thoroughly removed on a daily basis, it hardens into a rough, porous deposit called calculus, or tartar. Daily brushing and flossing will help to minimize the formation of calculus, but it won’t completely prevent it. No matter how careful you are in cleaning your teeth and gums, bacterial plaque can cause a recurrence of gum disease from two to four months after your last professional cleaning. Therefore, a dental professional must check for hidden problems and remove the hardened plaque at time intervals appropriate for you so that your teeth and gums stay healthy.
Who should perform supportive periodontal therapy?
The answer depends on you and the severity of your gum disease before treatment. Generally, the more severe your periodontal disease was initially, the more often we need to oversee your care. Our team and your general dentist will work together to develop and provide you with the most effective schedule for your supportive periodontal care.
Your maintenance/supportive periodontal care visit may include:
discussion of any changes in your health history
examination of your mouth tissues for abnormal changes
measurement of the depth of pockets around your teeth
assessment of your oral hygiene habits and provision of instruction
removal of bacterial plaque and tartar
digital x-ray studies to evaluate your teeth and the bone supporting your teeth
examination of your teeth for decay and other dental problems
a check of the way your teeth fit together when you bite
application or prescription of medications to reduce tooth sensitivity or other problems you may have
How often should you have supportive periodontal care visits?
Your periodontal condition is the deciding factor. The interval between your supportive periodontal care (SPC) visits might be as often as every 3 months, every 4 months, or every six months. Everyone’s situation is different. The frequency of your supportive care visits will be influenced by:
the type of periodontal disease you have
the type of periodontal treatment you have
your response to treatment
your rate of plaque growth
your personal commitment to good oral care at home
How Do We Coordinate Your Supportive Periodontal Care?
Your dentist and our team work together to provide you with the best possible care. We combine our experience to formulate the best maintenance plan for you and keep each other informed about your progress.
Although a periodontist may see you periodically for maintenance therapy, you will need to see your general dentist as well. Appointments for periodontal maintenance do not replace regular dental checkups. If our team detects tooth decay during a maintenance visit, you will be referred to your general dentist for treatment. Your general dentist is primarily responsible for your overall dental health, including such dental needs as filling new or recurrent cavities or making changes to fillings, crowns, or bridges.
To prevent periodontal disease—the major cause of tooth loss in adults—and maximize the probability of keeping your natural teeth for a lifetime, it is highly recommended that you carefully and conscientiously follow the guidelines of the maintenance program that our team recommends.
Protecting your periodontal health through preventive maintenance has great benefits. You will be able to chew more comfortably and smile and speak with greater confidence. You may also be able to keep dental costs down by preventing future problems. Your commitment to maintenance therapy is your commitment to better oral health.
Serving the Following Cities
Livermore • Pleasanton • Dublin • San Ramon • Tracy • Greater Bay Area
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