Periodontal Maintenance

Periodontal maintenance is ongoing care for gums that have shown signs of disease in the past. Once gum pockets deepen and bone is affected, regular "just a cleaning" visits are no longer enough. Instead, we set up a maintenance schedule to keep those areas as healthy and stable as possible.

These visits include careful scaling to remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline, along with gentle root planing where needed to smooth the root surfaces. We also review your brushing and flossing routine and suggest small changes or tools that can make home care more effective around deeper pockets. At each appointment, we perform a periodontal evaluation, checking pocket depths, bleeding points, and gum appearance. This helps us track whether the disease is staying stable, improving, or showing signs of flare-up. When we see trouble spots, we may suggest focused deep cleaning in those areas, localized antibiotics, or changes in your interval between visits.

Because gum health affects comfort and function, we also keep an eye on your bite and jaw. A bite and jaw alignment assessment, along with TMJ screening when needed, can uncover clenching, grinding, or bite interferences that put extra stress on already-compromised teeth and bone.

The timing of periodontal maintenance is different for everyone. Some patients do well on a three-month schedule; others may be able to stretch a bit longer once things are stable. We discuss this openly, considering your medical history, home care, and how your gums respond over time.

The aim is straightforward: keep infection under control, preserve as much bone and tissue as we can, and help you stay comfortable chewing and smiling. With steady maintenance and good habits at home, many patients keep their teeth for many years, even with a history of gum disease.