Periodontal maintenance is an important part of your dental health. It helps to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy by preventing bacteria from accumulating in the deep pockets around them. This can lead to tooth decay or gum disease. But what exactly does it entail?
Prophylaxis, or tooth cleaning, is the most common type of periodontal maintenance. It involves removing plaque and tartar from your teeth with a special dental tool called a scaler. The dentist will also polish your teeth to remove any remaining stains. This procedure can be done in several stages. These are:
Supragingival cleaning
This is the cleaning of the visible surfaces of your teeth. The dentist will remove plaque and tartar from above the gum line with a scaler or other dental tool.
Subgingival cleaning
This cleans the deep pockets around your teeth where bacteria tend to accumulate. The dentist will use a special tool called a curette to remove plaque and tartar from below the gum line.
Root planing
This is a type of subgingival cleaning that involves smoothing out rough patches on the roots of your teeth. It helps to prevent bacteria from accumulating in these areas.
Medication
In some cases, your dentist will prescribe antibiotics or other medications to help treat any gum disease you may have.
Periodontal maintenance is a good way for you and your dentist to monitor the health of your teeth and gums. It can also prevent more serious conditions from occurring in the future. Most people should perform this procedure twice a year at regular intervals, but it might need to be done more often, depending on their circumstances.
For example, those with diabetes usually require more frequent periodontal maintenance. They are at greater risk of developing gum disease than others due to changes in blood sugar levels throughout the day.
You should contact us if you want further information about periodontal maintenance or schedule an appointment. We would be happy to help!
Our Dental Blog | Smiles of Tulsa - Dentist in Tulsa, OK Corbyn VanBrunt, DDS has created this informative blog to help educate the community. Click here to learn more about home care, procedures and more! Smiles of Tulsa, 6565 S. Yale Ave., Ste. 1103, Tulsa, OK 74136 + (918) 891-3059 + smilesoftulsa.com + 10/27/2024 + Key Phrases: Preventive Dentistry Tulsa OK +