For some people, going to the dentist receiving general cleaning is enough to maintain healthy oral hygiene. However, for some patients dealing with a more severe case of periodontal misfortune periodontal maintenance is the best plan of attack to restore their mouths to a healthier state. 

Periodontal maintenance can be classified as a series of treatments that are used to remove tartar and plaque buildup from your teeth and gums. This is usually done so on a routine basis and allows your gums and teeth to be stable during the more advanced stages of gum disease. 

Unlike routine cleanings, periodontal maintenance is invasive and performed more extensively to make sure becomes have been treated properly. This type of cleaning is usually performed after procedures such as scaling and root planing and are provided in 3 months intervals. During these intervals, bacteria that have accumulated under the gum line will be eliminated with some intervals lasting up to 4 to 6 months depending on the severity of the infection. 

Periodontal maintenance treatments include:

• Deep cleanings – Deep cleaning uses advanced dental scrapers and ultrasonic scalers to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums.
• Scaling and root planing – Scaling and root planing uses dental tools to “scale” teeth below the gumline, and remove bacteria. Then, the roots are “planed”, smoothing them and reducing the risk of bacterial infection.
• Soft tissue recontouring – Soft tissue recontouring can reduce the inflamed, puffy appearance of gums affected by periodontal disease. 
• Digital x-rays – these are used to perform measurements to ensure that your periodontitis is not progressing and that its effects are being mitigated properly.

Unfortunately, since periodontitis cannot be cured and only maintained it’s important to know the differences between periodontal maintenance and regular dental cleanings. You should discuss the symptoms and other periodontal maintenance options with your dentist to make sure you keep the oral infections at bay. If you’re looking for more information on periodontal maintenance contact our offices located in Monroe, CT to speak with Dr. Amato to schedule an appointment and receive the periodontal help that you need to help regain your smile.