What to Expect From Periodontal Maintenance

Have you had trouble in the past maintaining your periodontal health? Maybe you’ve even had to get one or more dental implants because of periodontitis-related tooth decay. If so, periodontal maintenance can be an effective choice for your long-term oral health.

But what can you expect from periodontal maintenance, and how can it help you? The answers to these questions and more are right here. 

At St. Tammany Periodontics & Implants, our board-certified periodontists — Caesar Sweidan, DDS, and Laura Smith, DDS — recommend the use of this supplemental treatment for the best long-term recovery from and prevention of problems associated with periodontal disease.

Risk associated with periodontal disease

If you have been dealing with periodontal disease, you know it’s no picnic. Periodontal disease causes a number of problems, such as bad breath, bleeding gums, and tooth decay and loss.

In addition, this condition is associated with problems throughout your body. A 2017 study states periodontal disease can cause a 19% risk increase for cardiovascular disease. It’s also linked to arthritis, trouble controlling blood sugar in diabetes, and respiratory problems.

If you have already begun to experience periodontal disease or if you have needed treatment for this issue in the form of a tooth extraction and dental implants, it’s time to consider periodontal maintenance.

How periodontal maintenance works 

Periodontal maintenance is a treatment we recommend for those struggling with the effects of periodontal disease. You should have the procedure every three months in one of our offices.

The treatment involves a deeper cleaning than your regular, six-month cleaning, and our hygienists use special tools and techniques to clean your teeth as well as your gums. We remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums, and smooth the tooth roots to prevent bacteria from adhering to them.

In addition, we check the pockets between your gums and teeth and flush out any growing signs of periodontal disease. Finally, we might give you antibiotics to fight any lingering infections. 

What to expect from periodontal maintenance 

Now that you know what periodontal maintenance entails, you need to understand how it can help you. Not everyone is a candidate for periodontal maintenance, but some people require this kind of extra help with their oral health routine. 

You’re probably a good candidate for periodontal maintenance if you’re already dealing with periodontal disease or have had severe problems with your oral health in the past. Having a decayed tooth replaced with a dental implant doesn’t mean the periodontal disease that caused the decay is gone. 

Periodontal maintenance can help freeze, manage, and protect against periodontal disease, allowing you to avoid further tooth and bone loss. It can also help us catch new infections before they become severe. 

If you need to ensure protection from periodontal disease and all its side effects, consider making an appointment for a periodontal maintenance. We offer the treatment at both our Covington and Slidell, Louisiana, offices. Let us help you protect your oral health.