Periodontal Disease Maintenance
Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine is important for keeping your teeth, your gums, and the rest of your mouth healthy and free of issues. Skipping out on any part of your routine can quickly increase your risk of developing serious problems, including periodontal disease. A progressive condition, periodontal disease affects more than just your gums. It can also affect your teeth and their supporting structures. Treating periodontal disease is essential for preventing serious consequences, such as gum recession, loose teeth, or even tooth loss. At Oregon Periodontics, P.C., we can help stop your gum disease in its tracks and restore the health of your mouth with periodontal disease maintenance.
Periodontal Disease Maintenance
Periodontal disease maintenance is a series of regularly scheduled periodontal visits designed to monitor the progress of your healing following periodontal disease treatment. It is commonly done following scaling and root planing. The frequency of your visits depends upon your specific situation. Some patients may require visits every two months, while other patients only require visits every six months.
Part of your periodontal maintenance visit involves a thorough exam. We inspect your teeth for buildup and your gums for signs of inflammation and recession. We measure your periodontal pockets, making sure that they are becoming shallower. This indicates that the tissue is reattaching to the teeth. X-rays are also taken, which enable us to see the condition of your teeth and jawbone beneath the gums. When your exam is done, we clean your teeth, removing any buildup we find.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a common treatment that is meant to put a stop to periodontal disease and give your gums an opportunity to heal. It is essentially a deep cleaning of your teeth, during which we clean all surfaces of your teeth, including below the gumline. Scaling is the cleaning of the visible areas of your teeth. Using a scaler, we remove all buildup, including the most stubborn tartar. Special attention is paid to the areas around the gums. Root planing is the smoothing of the roots. We use a small tool that we move along the roots, removing plaque, bacteria, and toxins. With a smooth surface, new bacteria have a more difficult time adhering. An antibacterial wash is also used to kill and remove any lingering bacteria below the gums.
Why Periodontal Disease Maintenance?
There are several benefits of periodontal disease maintenance:
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It slows the progression of periodontal disease.
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Your teeth are provided with a thorough cleaning above and below the gumline.
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By removing buildup from your teeth, your gums can begin healing.
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We help to protect the health of your mouth and prevent serious issues from occurring. |
Keeping Your Mouth Healthy
Periodontal disease maintenance helps to slow and stop the progression of periodontal disease, but it is not a permanent solution. It is important that you work to maintain the health of your mouth to prevent new periodontal disease from taking hold. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once daily. It is also important to have regular professional cleanings and exams. By taking proactive measures, the health of your mouth is much better protected against serious complications.
Ignoring symptoms of periodontal disease can have dire consequences on your oral health, your appearance, and your quality of life. With periodontal disease maintenance, we not only halt the progression of periodontal disease, but we also give you back your oral health. For more information, and to schedule your appointment, call Oregon Periodontics P.C. today at (503) 575-7750. |