We may vary the intervals for periodontal maintenance depending on the individual needs and requirements of the patient. Because bacteria are ever-present in the oral cavity, it is imperative to have periodontal maintenance treatment every three months. One study in 1984 revealed that harmful bacteria could multiply and again create the environment for gum disease to re-develop, usually between one or two months after initial treatment. When bacteria are present, the gums can become inflamed or infected, which can lead to the development of other health issues. The intense process is essential to restore the health of both the bones and gums. Periodontal maintenance follows these cleanings and treatments. These areas present numerous issues, including the buildup of tartar and plaque. These pockets are deep gaps and spaces between the gums and teeth, formed when the diseased tissue recedes from the tooth surface. Patients who suffer from gum disease will usually have developed periodontal 'pockets' during the disease's progression. Why Do Patients With Periodontal Disease Need Maintenance? Regular periodontal care will keep gum disease at bay, and your gums in the pink of health. Once this process is complete, we typically recommend patients proceed to periodontal maintenance. The two-step process provides the environment necessary for gums to reattach to the back of your teeth. This process is to smooth out the now-visible roots of your teeth. After your teeth have been through the process of scaling, we will then provide root planning. Handheld instruments are used to complete this process as well as ultrasonic instruments. Through scaling, we can remove the plaque and tartar that may have built up around your teeth and gum line. These processes are also widely known as deep cleaning. Mild and moderate forms of gum disease are treated with procedures called scaling and root planing. This care is available to patients who are experiencing periodontitis, commonly known as gum disease. Regular periodontal care and maintenance will provide cleaning and treatments that go deeper than the typical processes offered by a dental hygienist or a general dentist. If you suffer from severe issues with your oral health, we may recommend periodontal treatment and maintenance. David Scharf provides numerous treatments that benefit the gum tissues which support your teeth. Have you noticed bleeding gums or other signs of infected gum tissue? Call us today to schedule an examination.As a periodontist, Dr. Unless this plaque is removed, it will harden into tartar that will then become a protective home to future plaque that will advance lower and lower beside the teeth and into the bony support structures surrounding If you want to stop gum disease before it gets any further, the Palm Harbor Family Dentistry team will need to completely remove these harmful substances with scaling and root planing and with continual periodontal maintenance. Gum disease is the ultimate result of bacteria building up around the teeth and gums, forming plaque. It’s important to go to your deep cleanings without them, disease can run rampant and do serious damage to your gums and teeth. Deep cleaning is performed to stop periodontal disease from advancing.

Periodontal maintenance is only needed for people who have periodontal disease, so if your oral health is in great shape, you won’t need to get a deep cleaning. Think of deep cleaning as the step that comes after, when regular cleaning isn’t good enough. This aids in your ability to care for the teeth at home, and improves the prognosis of teeth that might be compromised from periodontal disease.

The root planing part of the procedure is the act of mechanically smoothing the surface of the roots to ensure that any future bacterial build-up will have a more difficult time adhering to the teeth. If they see any infection or inflammation in these pockets, then the dental hygienist will flush the area with antiseptic to help with disinfection and controlling the infection or inflammation. In addition, they’ll examine the pockets of your gums. They’ll get in between your teeth and down to your gums. When you go for periodontal maintenance, the hygienist will remove tartar just like with a regular cleaning. Also, regular cleanings are done as preventative care, while periodontal maintenance takes care of the complicated issues surrounding deep pockets and gum disease. However, you’ll probably need these appointments more often you’ll need to return every three or four months. Periodontal maintenance (deep cleaning) is very similar to the procedure completed during a regular cleaning, however, this is only completed in cases of progressed periodontal disease.