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Periodontal
Maintenance! Is it just another tune up?
Discussing our patients maintenance visits
conjures up thoughts of changing their oil and tuning their engines. Instead of
maintenance we can call these visits recall exams. This projects thoughts of
damaged parts that have to be replaced. So what would be the appropriate label
for these regular dental exams? I really don't know. I do know how important
they are and can't stress enough how routine visits for examinations and
periodontal maintenance will help keep your teeth for a lifetime.
First it is
important to distinguish the difference between a polishing and a periodontal
treatment. A polishing is the removal of stains that develop on the teeth.
These stains can developed from many different factors. The removal of these
stains is for purely cosmetic reasons and need only be done when they become
very noticeable. A periodontal treatment is necessary to maintain the health of
the gums and supporting bone . These visits are not for cosmetic concerns
(though, gum disease can be very unsightly) it is for health reasons. Gum
treatments need to be done on a routine basis, possibly every 3 to 4 months in
order to prevent the recurrence of periodontal disease.
I an often questioned by my patients as to why they so often need a
cleaning? Their teeth do not seem to be stained. They never had to get a
cleaning more then once a year. Why now is it necessary to come in for three or
four visits and then every three to four months? I want to stress to these
patients that they are not getting a cleaning during these visits. They are
having a gum treatment. These people have been diagnosed as having some form of
gum disease and need the appropriate therapy to arrest the destructive process
of the disease. Maintenance or whatever we want to call it is the key factor in
preventing gum disease and keeping our teeth strong for a lifetime.
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