While you may be tempted to ignore your red, swollen gums or slight bleeding when you brush, these are the earliest signs of periodontal disease. Also called gum disease, periodontitis is caused by plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth pushing against your gums and causing inflammation and potential infection. As the disease progresses, it can seriously impact your oral health, compromising the tissue and bone that hold your teeth firm. This can possibly lead to tooth loss and other dental issues.
Periodontal maintenance can improve your mouth’s overall health and prevent serious problems from developing. For over 40 years, the dentists at AZ Family Dental have brought cutting-edge dental treatments and quality periodontal care to patients throughout the Phoenix area. If you’ve experienced gum disease, our periodontal maintenance therapy can help slow periodontitis so you can enjoy a healthy smile for years to come.
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What Is Periodontal Maintenance?
While gum disease is a common dental issue, it should never be ignored. If the dentists at AZ Family Dental find signs of periodontitis, we’ll use swift periodontal care, including teeth scaling and other specialized techniques, to help us prevent further damage to your teeth and gums.
Once your periodontal treatment is complete, our goal is to ensure your gums remain healthy and that your gum disease does not return. Regular periodontal maintenance appointments about every three months are an effective method of fighting periodontitis. The dentists at AZ Family Dental will work with you to determine how often maintenance treatments are needed based on your individual needs.
A periodontal maintenance visit includes:
- Removal of plaque and tartar from your teeth by a dental hygienist.
- A thorough exam where the condition of your gums and teeth are assessed.
- Measurement of the pockets in your gums.
- X-rays to determine the condition of your jawbone.
- Oral cancer screening.
- Home oral hygiene instructions.
- An opportunity to address any questions or concerns with your dentist.
Our Dental Office Locations
Same and Next Day New Patient Appointments Available!
Glendale
8519 N 59th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85302, United States
Cave Creek
28255 N Tatum Blvd Suite 4, Cave Creek, AZ 85331, United States
Phoenix
1820 W Thunderbird Rd suite 1, Phoenix, AZ 85023, United States
What Are the Benefits of Periodontal Maintenance Therapy?
While periodontal care is an effective method of combatting gum disease, it is not a permanent solution. To continue to treat periodontitis, regular periodontal maintenance therapy is needed. Skipping these appointments or only receiving one to two treatments per year can potentially lead to worsening gum disease.
If your dentist recommends periodontal maintenance, there are many benefits to this ongoing form of therapy:
- Slows and reverses gum disease.
- Removes the plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line that can only be addressed with dental tools.
- Decreases inflammation, swelling, and redness.
- Reduces the depth of periodontal pockets.
- Prevents costly oral health issues from developing, such as recessed gums, poor bone strength, and tooth loss.
- Helps identify other health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, or oral cancer.
- Freshens your breath.
- Allows you to enjoy cleaner, healthier teeth, and a more confident smile.
Learn More About Periodontal Maintenance in the Phoenix Area
Periodontal disease can seriously impact your whole body, not just your oral health. The team at AZ Family Dental is dedicated to slowing the progression of gum disease so you can enjoy a beautiful smile and better overall health. Along with our wide array of general dentistry services, we provide outstanding periodontal care and periodontal maintenance therapy.
If you suspect you may be struggling with gum disease, don’t wait. Schedule your dental exam at our inviting and caring Phoenix-area office.
Frequently Asked Questions for Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal disease (gum disease) is not curable due to the loss of structure support surrounding your teeth, but it is treatable. Treatment can work to reduce the infection caused by periodontal, restoring bone and tissue structure to an extent.
During treatment, you’re administered an anesthetic that numbs the target area. This minimizes pain and discomfort to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
Periodontists treat conditions that can cause gum disease to develop. The main conditions they’ll target are gingivitis, progressing periodontitis, and bone loss. Treating conditions like gingivitis before they progress to a severe stage can completely halt gum disease from developing.
Yes, periodontal treatment is an effective way to reduce pain and weakness due to gum disease. We highly recommend the procedure because It can prevent tooth loss caused by periodontitis and the progression of certain infections.
Periodontitis can advance to a severe stage if left untreated, resulting in tooth loss. Along with the risk to your teeth’s structural integrity, the bacteria that develops with periodontitis can get into your bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body.