How often do you need periodontal maintenance?

Once your periodontal treatment has been completed, your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend that you have regular maintenance cleanings (periodontal cleanings), usually four times a year. At these cleaning appointments, the pocket depths will be carefully checked to ensure that they are healthy.

What is considered periodontal maintenance?

Unlike a normal, preventative cleaning, periodontal maintenance is a treatment prescribed to combat periodontal disease. It involves both scaling and root planing, meaning tartar must be removed from deep between the teeth and gums.

Do I need periodontal maintenance forever?

Periodontal maintenance is therapeutic in nature and includes “removal of bacterial plaque and calculus from supragingival and subgingival regions, site specific scaling and root planing where indicated, and polishing the teeth.” Periodontal maintenance should always follow definitive periodontal therapy for a period …

Is periodontal maintenance covered by insurance?

For the most part, your dental insurance will pay for all or part of two prophylaxis cleanings a year. Some plans cover periodontal maintenance. If you need this type of treatment, we provide your insurance company with additional information to ensure you receive coverage.

Is periodontal maintenance a deep cleaning?

Periodontal maintenance (deep cleaning) is very similar to regular cleanings, but it does have its differences. For one, you’ll probably need these appointments more often; you’ll need to return every three or four months.

Will I have periodontitis forever?

Generally, bad breath is caused by periodontal problems, rotting food beneath the gum line and gangrene resulting from gum infections. Removal of calculus, bacteria and plaque thus improves your breath. Since the dentist thoroughly examines your entire mouth during prophylaxis, oral cancer screening can be done.

How much should a periodontal cleaning cost?

Deep cleaning may cost between $140 and $300, depending on your location and your dentist. Your insurance may or may not cover it. You may experience some bleeding, but you should be able to resume normal eating and drinking later that day.

Can you save your teeth if you have periodontal disease?

Saving teeth from periodontal disease is possible if you detect the signs and symptoms early or regularly visit your dentist for cleanings and exams. Let the condition progress unhindered, and tooth loss should be considered as an eventuality.

What is done in a periodontal maintenance procedure?

Periodontal maintenance scaling is needed to maintain gum and bone health. This procedure includes removal of plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line, all the way down the length of each tooth to where the root, gum, and bone meet.

Does dental insurance cover receding gums?

Dental insurance can cover some treatments for periodontal disease. People should enroll into periodontal insurance, which is dental insurance that covers periodontal care (“Periodontal Insurance”). They may have to pay their deductible before receiving coverage for this care (“Laser Gum Treatment & Cost”).

Will I lose my teeth if I have periodontal disease?

Periodontitis (per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.

What is periodontal maintenance care?

The dental cleaning, which is recommended following these treatments, is called periodontal maintenance care. Periodontal maintenance includes a cleaning which goes deeper than a typical cleaning at the dental office. Patients who have a history of periodontal disease require these deeper cleanings because of the formation of periodontal pockets.

What are the treatment options for periodontitis?

Once there has been damage to the gum tissues and tooth supporting (alveolar) bone from periodontal bacteria, periodontitis must be actively managed by dental professionals to avoid progression of the disease, and loss of the teeth. Periodontal maintenance includes localized, non-surgical procedures necessary to keep the disease under control.

What is periodontitis and how is it diagnosed?

Periodontitis is diagnosed by the appearance of periodontal pockets – areas where the gum has pulled away from the tooth due to bacterial infection. It causes redness, pain, and swelling in the gums. Ultimately, it can lead to tooth loss, lung disease, and heart disease.

What is a prophylaxis dental cleaning?

Prophylaxis, which is commonly known as a professional dental cleaning, is a preventative measure included with routine dental visits. The focus of these cleanings is to remove plaque and other irritants from the mouth, in addition to cleaning, flossing and polishing the teeth. Deposits build up on your teeth over time and lead to tartar.