Maintenance Therapy-Monitoring and Cleaning
To prevent return of periodontal disease, regular visits to your dental professional are necessary. Reinforcement of oral hygiene, inspection of the supporting structures and professional cleanings all serve to maintain the existing bone levels.
A great deal of research has been done to investigate the best recall interval for a professional cleaning. If you have had periodontal disease, it appears that intervals of three or four months between visits are successful in preventing recurrence of disease. Otherwise, a six month interval is likely adequate to maintain health.
Everyone is different and has unique requirements. Factors such as rate of calculus build-up, depth of periodontal pockets, oral hygiene, and susceptibility to periodontal disease are all taken into account when establishing a personal recall interval. An ideal recall interval provides a quality professional cleaning at the time the bad bacteria are trying to re-establish themselves in the pockets.