Periodontal Maintenance or a “Regular Cleaning” – What are the Differences?
More than 50% of Americans have some sort of gum disease; if
you are one of them, your dental cleaning is not “just a cleaning.” Patients will often ask their hygienist,
“What’s the difference between periodontal maintenance and a “regular
cleaning?” This is a fair question since
the cost is different and it may feel like a similar procedure.
A “regular cleaning” is typically recommended every six
months for patients who have healthy bone and gums. You could use the analogy
of changing the oil in your car periodically to protect and prevent damage on a
well-running engine. At a regular
hygiene appointment, your hygienist will remove stains, soft plaque and tartar
above the gums and will check for cavities.
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Scaling cleans the teeth to remove deposits above and below
the gum line. Root Planing smoothes the rough root surface
so the gum can heal.
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Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection caused by
plaque that destroys the bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place. As with other ailments, some people are more
susceptible than others. Smoking, a
stressful lifestyle, some medications, diabetes and prior gum problems are just
a few of the things that can increase your risk. To treat this, our goal is to stop infection
by cleaning and disinfecting the roots of the teeth – above and below the gum
line. This is called scaling and root
planning (SRPs). Usually, this is done in two separate visits, and the dentist
may use a local anesthetic and will often treat one half of your mouth at a
time.
Periodontal disease is not cured… it is a chronic condition
much like diabetes, and can be controlled.
Once bony damage has occurred, it is generally permanent and the pockets
are impossible to keep clean, by ordinary flossing and brushing. Modern therapies such as laser therapy and
placing antibiotics under the gum line in the periodontal pockets will help
many to avoid gum surgery and loss of teeth.
Careful oral hygiene at home and frequent office visits to monitor and
maintain your gums and bone, is a team effort in the war on periodontal
disease. How often you need to visit
your hygienist will vary based on your individual needs. Studies show that it only takes three months
for bacteria to build up in these pockets to the point where they caused the
problem in the first place. Many are
able to stay healthy when they schedule maintenance appointments at 3 – 4 month
intervals. At each visit, we’ll clean
and disinfect your teeth above and below the gum line, take periodic x-rays and
measure your pockets. If we find an area
that is beginning to relapse, we can treat it before it becomes a bigger
problem. If we find that there has been
no change, then your treatment schedule is working to control your periodontal
disease and we should stay the course.
Good periodontal health has extended benefits – it is
important in blood sugar regulation for diabetics; it keeps your heart,
respiratory and reproductive systems healthier.
Don’t skip your maintenance appointment – it’s so much more than “just a
cleaning.”
