Perio Maintenance vs. Adult Prophy

What is Periodontal Disease?

It is the inflammation and infection of the teeth’s supporting structures, which includes gums, bone, root surfaces and ligaments. Symptoms include: gums that bleed easily and are red and swollen, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, teeth shifting, teeth that appear longer, bad breath. Treatment for the disease may require root planing and scaling, which is the removal of diseased deposits from the tooth and its root surfaces, includes tarter, calculus, bacteria and toxins. Also more frequent periodontal maintenance. For some patients, these measures constitute complete therapy, whereas others, they precede periodontal surgery. Surgery can include such procedures as pocket reduction, soft tissue grafts, crown lengthening, and others.

What is Periodontal Maintenance?

Periodontal Maintenance includes those procedures patients must receive after treatment for periodontal disease. The goal of periodontal maintenance is to minimize progression of periodontitis and gingivitis, reduce loss of teeth, and increase chance of locating and treating future pathology. This maintenance helps prevent further disease and consists of the following:

• Removal of bacterial debris & deposits from crevice and pocket areas
• Polishing and scaling of teeth
• Gum tissue irrigation
• Radiographic assessment and re-probing pocket depths as needed
• Gum and bone evaluation
• Review of patients plaque control and home care
• Deeper scaling and root planing recommendations
• How does it differ from Regular Cleanings?

Regular dental cleanings includes: scaling and polishing of the tooth crown-the part of the tooth above the gums. The aim of this cleaning is removal of plaque and tartar. Plaque is a soft, sticky, substance that forms on the teeth. Tarter and calculus, is a hard cement-like substance formed of plaque and the minerals in a person’s saliva. This type of regular hygiene is insufficient for patients who have undergone treatment for periodontal disease.

How often should patients receive Periodontal Maintenance and does insurance cover them?

Generally, quarterly appointments are sufficient, but some patients will require more frequent procedures. It is usually based on a per-patient basis rather than on a general timetable.

Dental insurance typically pays for two regular cleanings and two periodontal maintenance appointments per year. However, most patients will require more than two perio maintenance appointments for the year and may be an out of pocket expense