Maintenance
It only takes 24 hours for plaque that is not removed from your teeth to turn into calculus (tartar) if it hasn’t been removed. It is important to keep your home clean on a daily basis to prevent plaque and tartar buildup, but you will always need to pay special attention to those hard-to-reach areas.
As soon as your periodontal treatment is complete, your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend regular maintenance cleanings (periodontal cleanings), usually four times per year. During these cleaning appointments, we will conduct a careful examination of the pocket depths in order to make sure that they are healthy. Above and below the gum line, plaque and calculus that is difficult for you to remove on a daily basis will be removed in order to make your oral health better.
As part of your periodontal cleaning and evaluation, you will usually be asked to complete the following tasks:
- An examination of diagnostic x-rays (radiographs):Â This is an essential part of detecting decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss in the body. X-rays are also helpful in determining the position of the tooth and root.
- Checking existing restorations: Check for fillings, crowns, and other types of restorations that may be present.
- Examination of tooth decay:Â Examine all surfaces of the teeth for signs of decay.
- Oral cancer screening:Â Look for any signs of oral cancer on the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, cheek tissues, and gums.
- Recommendations for oral hygiene:If necessary, review and recommend oral hygiene aids as needed. (Electric toothbrushes, special periodontal brushes, fluorides, rinses, etc., etc.)
- Polishing of the teeth:This is a process that allows stain and plaque to be removed from the teeth that may be missed by brushing and scaling.
In order to maintain dental health and prevent periodontal disease from becoming worse, good oral hygiene practices and regular periodontal cleanings are vital.