Maintenance | Tampa, FL | Tampa Bay Periodontics

What is Maintenance Therapy?

Once your periodontal treatment is completed it is very important that you maintain regular professional cleanings. Dental research states that a 3 month recall may be required. This is necessary because it takes approximately 3 months for the bacteria to re-grow and start to cause destruction of gingival tissue and bone loss. Our staff will help you with instructions on good oral hygiene at home which will keep periodontal disease from reoccurring or becoming more serious. A few minutes a day is enough to care for your teeth and gums. You do not have to lose teeth to periodontal disease if you brush, floss, eat a balanced diet, stay active and schedule regular dental visits. As time passes, the frequency of your recall may be adjusted, if your home case and the stability of your case will allow adjusting the recall schedule.

Who Should Perform Maintenance Therapy?

The answer depends on the patient and the severity of the disease prior to treatment. Generally, the more severe the initial problem, the more the periodontist needs to oversee the case. The responsibility for periodontal maintenance will generally be worked out between the patient, the general dentist and the periodontist.

How Often Should Maintenance Therapy Be Performed?

This decision is based on a number of factors. The interval between maintenance visits varies from every few weeks to every six months. The frequency of maintenance visits is influenced by: the severity of the disease, the treatment required to get control of the disease, the patient response to treatment and the rate of plaque growth. The frequency of maintenance visits is significantly influenced by the patient commitment to good oral care at home.

Airflow Polishing

Air polishing helps to safely remove surface stains, plaque and other soft deposits such as food particles trapped on or between the teeth. This procedure uses air and water pressure to deliver a controlled stream of specially processed powders in a slurry through the handpiece nozzle. These fine particles of powder are propelled by compressed air in a warm spray and directed onto the surfaces of the teeth. For patients with deeper pockets, including periodontal maintenance patients, the Airflow can reach into the periodontal pockets to safely remove bacterial biofilm and endotoxins below the gum line, aiding in the management of periodontitis. Airflow Polishing not only benefits natural teeth, but, dental implants, orthodontic brackets, and dental restorations such as bonding, crowns, and veneers, as well. Implants must be cleaned regularly to prevent biofilm buildup which can lead to mucositis and peri-implantitis (bone loss around an implant), however, care must be taken not to damage the implant while cleaning. Airflow polishing can help gently remove the damaging bacterial biofilm on all of the implant components without scratching the surfaces. If you have dental implants, difficult to clean periodontal pockets or teeth that are badly stained from coffee, tea, cola, or tobacco AirFlow polishing could be an ideal addition to your next checkup.