Periodontal Maintenance in sacramento
Why Periodontal Maintenance is the Secret to Keeping Your Teeth healthy
So, you’ve finished your deep cleaning, your gums have stopped bleeding, and you can finally enjoy a cold drink at a Midtown cafe without that “zing” of sensitivity. That is a huge win! But here is the thing about gum disease, it’s a bit like a garden. If you pull the weeds once but never come back to pull the new ones, the weeds will take over again before you know it.
At Tex Mabalon Dentistry, we use Periodontal Maintenance to make sure those “weeds” (the bad bacteria) don’t move back into the pockets of your gums. For our patients in Sierra Oaks & Sierra Oaks Vista, Arden Oaks, and Arden-Arcade, this is the most important step in making sure you never have to deal with painful gum surgery or tooth loss down the road.
Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal maintenance is a specialized cleaning for people who have been treated for gum disease in the past. It is different from a regular “prophy” cleaning. While a regular cleaning is for healthy mouths to prevent problems, maintenance is for managing a condition that is already there. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, once you have lost bone or tissue to gum disease, you are always “at risk” for it to return.
Think of it like this: your gums used to be a tight turtleneck around your teeth, but gum disease stretched them out into a loose V-neck. Even after a deep cleaning, those pockets exist. Periodontal Maintenance focuses on cleaning deep into those pockets every few months so bacteria don’t have time to build up and cause a new infection.
Why Every 3 to 4 Months?
Most of our Sacramento neighbors are used to coming in every six months. But for gum health, that is often too long. Scientific research from the American Dental Association (ADA) shows that the specific “bad” bacteria that cause bone loss usually grow back to dangerous levels in about 90 days.
By seeing us for maintenance every three to four months, we “reset” the clock. We check the depth of your pockets with a tiny measuring tool to make sure they aren’t getting deeper. If we catch a small flare-up, we can handle it right then and there with a quick localized treatment. This saves you a ton of money and stress in the long run.
What Happens During a Maintenance Visit?
We know you have a busy life, whether you’re heading to a game at the Golden 1 Center or working near the State Capitol. We keep these visits efficient but thorough:
1, Pocket Check: We measure the “space” between your tooth and gum. We love seeing these numbers go down over time!
2. Site-Specific Cleaning: We use ultrasonic scalers to vibrate away any new tartar that has tucked itself deep under the gum line.
3. Root Review: We check to make sure the roots of your teeth are still smooth.
4. Health Update: We look at your x-rays to ensure the bone levels in your jaw stay stable and strong.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds us that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Staying on a maintenance schedule is the single best way to defy that statistic.
Keeping Your Smile Healthy in the City of Trees
We want you to keep your natural teeth for as long as you live. That means being proactive. Whether you are grabbing a bite in Old Sacramento or hiking the American River Trail, you shouldn’t have to worry about your teeth feeling loose or your gums feeling sore.
frequently asked questions:
Is periodontal maintenance the same as deep cleaning?
While often discussed together, “deep cleaning” typically refers to the initial nonsurgical treatments of scaling and root planing used to treat existing gum disease. Periodontal maintenance involves regular professional cleanings on a schedule recommended by your dentist to manage the health of your gum pockets and prevent the recurrence of periodontitis.
How often do I need periodontal maintenance?
The frequency of your visits is determined by your dentist or periodontist based on the severity of your gum disease and how well you manage your oral care at home. Regular professional cleanings are essential to prevent further damage to the surrounding gum tissue and bone.
What happens if I skip periodontal maintenance?
Skipping maintenance allows bacteria and tartar to build up in pockets deeper than 5 mm, which cannot be cleaned well with routine home care. Without professional intervention, this can lead to advanced periodontitis, significant bone loss, and eventually the loss of teeth.
When is it too late to stop periodontal disease?
Treatment is most successful when the disease is caught early, but even advanced cases can be managed through surgical options like bone grafting or guided tissue regeneration. The goal is always to clean the pockets around teeth and stop the spread of infection to preserve as much natural bone and tissue as possible.
What is done during periodontal maintenance?
During these visits, a dental professional will thoroughly clean the pockets around your teeth to remove bacteria and tartar buildup. They may also measure pocket depths—where depths greater than 4 mm indicate active disease—and monitor for signs of bone loss via X-rays to ensure the infection is under control.