PERIODONTAL MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE
Periodontal Maintenance (Teeth Cleaning)
Periodontal maintenance is a cleaning procedure used to thoroughly clean the teeth. This maintenance is critical in preventing the progression of periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease and gingivitis occur when bacteria from plaque forms on gum tissue. The bacteria can cause serious inflammation and irritation which can effect a patient’s overall health. As a result of the bacteria, the body starts to attack the gum and bone tissue. This can cause the teeth shift, become unstable or even fall out. In addition, the pockets between the gums and teeth grow deeper and collect more bacteria. The bacteria can then travel through the bloodstream and infect other areas of the body.
Reasons for Periodontal Maintenance
Prophylaxis, or dental cleaning is an excellent maintain good oral health and also prevent gum disease. Some of the benefits of periodontal maintenance include:
- Tartar removal– Tartar and plaque buildup can cause serious issues if they remain untreated. Even when patients are diligent with brushing and flossing at home, it is not always possible to remove debris, bacteria and deposits from the gums. Dentists are able to use specialized tools to properly identify and treat issues such as plaque and tartar buildup.
- Aesthetics – Routine maintenance can help remove tough stains and help restore a beautiful white smile.
- Fresher breath – Periodontal disease often causes chronic bad breath. Removing plaque, calculus and bacteria significantly improves breath and helps to alleviate irritation.
Health issues often present themselves in the mouth first. Through prophylaxis, the dentist completes a thorough examination of the entire oral cavity. This gives them the ability to screen for oral cancer, evaluate risks for periodontitis and identify other medical issues such as diabetes and kidney problems.
What does periodontal maintenance involve?
Prophylaxis can be performed during a routine dental visit or under general anesthesia, if necessary. A general anesthetic is common when severe periodontal disease is present. An endotracheal tube can be placed in the throat to protect the lungs from harmful bacteria that is removed during the procedure.
Prophylaxis is typically performed in several stages:
- Supragingival cleaning– The dentist thoroughly cleans the area above the gum line with scaling tools to remove plaque and calculus.
- Subgingival cleaning– This is the most critical step for patients with periodontal disease as the dentist is able to remove calculus and bacteria below the gum line and from gum pockets.
- Root planing- This process involves smoothing the tooth root in order to eliminate any remaining bacteria. These bacteria are incredibly dangerous, so the dentist makes it top priority to remove.
- Medication- Following scaling and root planing, an antibiotic or antimicrobial cream is often placed in the gum pockets. These treatments help promote fast and healthy healing in the pockets and help eliminate any discomfort.
- X-ray and examination–X-rays can help expose the extent of bone and gum recession. They can also aid the dentist in identifying areas which may require future attention.
Periodontal maintenance is recommended for patients every three to four months. Research indicates the formation of bacteria on the teeth and gum takes place almost immediately after the cleaning. In addition, bad bacteria forms after three months. Routinely removing the bacteria from below the gumline can help control inflammation and can also help prevent decay of the bone and gum. Though it is not possible to reverse the effects of gum disease, periodontal maintenance is an important tools dentists use to stop the progression of gum disease.