Periodontal Maintenance Reynoldsburg
At McKibben Dental, our goal is to help protect and maintain our patients’ gum health, known as periodontal maintenance. Periodontal maintenance typically refers to the services and treatments completed by our team to ensure the health and wellness of our patients’ gum and oral health.
Periodontal maintenance is utilized typically after a patient has already undergone a type of non-surgical or surgical periodontal treatment, such as a deep cleaning or surgery to treat their periodontal disease. To ensure that these treatments will last for years to come, our expert team will work with you to ensure that you are maintaining your periodontal health.
Periodontal Maintenance Cleanings
An important part of periodontal maintenance is periodic cleanings performed by Dr. McKibben and Dr. Ehrbar to help remove plaque and bacteria from the deep areas and pockets of your gums and teeth. Since you have already undergone more intense procedures to help eliminate your periodontal disease, these cleanings are usually simple and painless.
These cleanings are typically completed every two to three months, depending on your unique situation–they will help to eliminate the harmful bacteria, allowing good bacteria to thrive. The types of bacteria that cause periodontal disease takes about six to eight weeks to reach high enough levels to cause teeth and bone damage, which is why we recommend having these periodic cleanings.
Why Periodontal Maintenance Is Important
There have been multiple long-term studies that have shown the effectiveness of proper periodontal maintenance when it comes to preventing future periodontal disease and issues in patients who have undergone periodontal surgery. On the flip side, when proper periodontal maintenance is not performed, gum disease is likely to return and tooth loss can increase by almost 500%.
Healthy Gums For Years To Come
Our team at McKibben Dental encourages you to continue to work on maintaining your periodontal health and keep your gums and teeth healthy for years to come with periodontal maintenance treatment. We invite you to reach out to our office at 614-575-9530 if you have any questions about maintenance or treatment. We’re looking forward to helping you maintain healthy gums for life!
Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients benefit from periodontal maintenance every three to four months, although the exact schedule depends on the severity of previous gum disease and how well their gums respond to treatment. Our team will recommend a schedule that supports your long-term oral health and helps reduce the risk of recurrence.
Periodontal maintenance is designed for patients who have already been treated for gum disease. These visits focus on cleaning below the gumline, monitoring periodontal pockets, and helping prevent the return of infection. Regular cleanings are intended for patients with healthy gums and are not as extensive.
Some patients may eventually transition back to routine preventive cleanings if their gums remain healthy and stable over time. However, many patients with a history of periodontal disease require ongoing maintenance to keep bacteria under control. During your visits in Reynoldsburg, OH, our team will monitor your progress and recommend the most appropriate care.
Missing maintenance visits allows harmful bacteria to build up beneath the gums, increasing the risk that gum disease will return. Untreated periodontal disease can lead to bone loss, loose teeth, and eventual tooth loss. Staying on schedule with periodontal maintenance in Reynoldsburg, OH helps protect your smile and preserve the results of your previous treatment.
Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and using any recommended oral hygiene products are essential for maintaining healthy gums. Avoiding tobacco products, eating a balanced diet, and keeping up with your scheduled dental visits also play an important role in preventing future periodontal problems.
