Periodontal Maintenance and Supportive Periodontal Care
After Dr. Cristoforo has completed the active phase of periodontal treatment needed, your periodontal disease will be stabilized. He will provide you with a personalized periodontal maintenance program of care to keep your gums healthy.
Maintenance therapy is an ongoing program designed to prevent disease in the gum tissues as well as the bone supporting your teeth. Sticking to a continuous program of good oral care at home in addition to regularly scheduled periodontal maintenance therapy visits with your dentist and Dr. Cristoforo will give you an excellent chance of keeping your teeth for your lifetime.
Why Is Periodontal Maintenance So Important?
The main cause of gum disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. The bacteria in this plaque produce toxins, or poisons, which attack your gums and teeth continuously. Unless plaque is removed, it hardens into a rough, porous deposit called calculus, or tartar. Daily brushing and flossing will help minimize the formation of calculus, but it won't completely prevent it. No matter how careful you are with oral home care, 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 your mouth so your teeth and gums stay healthy.
Who Performs Periodontal Maintenance?
Truthfully, the answer to this depends on the severity of your gum disease before needed treatment is performed. The more severe your periodontal disease is initially, the more often Dr. Cristoforo needs to oversee your care. Together, you, your general dentist, and Dr. Cristoforo will work out the most effective schedule for your supportive periodontal care.
What Does A Periodontal Maintenance Appointment Include?
- Discussion of health history changes
- Examination of mouth tissues
- Measurement of pocket depths around teeth
- Assessment of oral hygiene habits
- Removal of bacterial plaque and tartar
- X-rays to evaluate teeth and bone
- Examination of teeth for decay and other dental issues
- Check to ensure proper bite
- Application or prescription of medications
How Often Should I Have the Periodontal Maintenances?
Your periodontal condition is the deciding factor. The interval between your supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) visits might be as often as every few weeks or as frequent as every six months. Everyone is different.
Frequency of supportive care visits are influenced by:
- The type of periodontal disease
- The type of periodontal treatment
- Your response to treatment
- Your rate of plaque growth
- Your personal commitment to good oral care at home
What Is the Relationship Between My General Dentist and Dr. Cristoforo?
Your dentist and Dr. Cristoforo work together as a team to provide you with the best possible care. They will combine their experience to determine the proper maintenance plan for you, and keep each other informed about your progress.
Although you may only see Dr. Cristoforo periodically for periodontal maintenance therapy, you will need to see your general dentist as well on a regular basis. Appointments for periodontal maintenance don't replace your regular dental checkups. If Dr. Cristoforo detects tooth decay during a periodontal maintenance appointment, he will explain that your general dentist will need to complete that treatment, as your general dentist is responsible for your overall dental health, such as filling cavities or making changes in current restorative work.
Make Sure To Keep Up With Your Periodontal Maintenance Therapy
To prevent periodontal disease, the major cause of tooth loss in adults, and to keep your natural teeth for a lifetime, it is crucial that you carefully follow the guidelines of the periodontal maintenance program that Dr. Cristoforo recommends. Protecting your periodontal health through preventative maintenance has great benefits for you. You will be able to chew with more comfort, and smile and speak with greater confidence. You will be able to keep dental costs down by preventing future problems.
Your commitment to periodontal maintenance therapy is your commitment to better oral health.