When patients are asked to go for “periodontal maintenance,” they often ask why because all they want is normal teeth cleaning. If your dentist recommends that you be scheduled for periodontal maintenance, and if you notice the difference between the costs for these procedures, here is a brief explanation:

Regular Cleaning vs Periodontal Maintenance

Prophylaxis, or Regular Cleaning

Regular cleaning is for patients with no periodontal disease, bone loss, or infection around the teeth. There should be no mobility of the teeth or bleeding, or receded areas, where the spaces around the roots of the teeth are open. In simpler words, the mouth should be healthy with no bone or gum-related issues.

Regular cleaning removes tartar, soft plaque, and stains from the teeth above the gum line. It is usually done 2 to 3 times a year, depending on how quickly plaque, stain, and tartar accumulate.

Periodontal Maintenance (PM)

Regular cleaning is not appropriate if you have:

• periodontal disease resulting in bone loss
• bleeding gums
• exposed root surfaces
• gum “pockets” deeper than 4 millimeters
• had periodontal surgery
• or root planing to treat periodontal surgery
• or root planing to treat periodontal disease

PM scaling maintains bone and gum health. This procedure removes tartar and plaque from above and below the gum line, all the way down the length of each tooth.

You may need to go for PM 3 to 4 times a year. It depends on several factors like, how:

• quickly the plaque and tartar accumulate
• stable the present condition is
• much bleeding or inflammation is present
• well you can maintain your teeth at home daily

If you would like to learn more about regular cleaning vs. periodontal maintenance, please contact our office. To schedule an appointment with your Sugar Land dentist, call at 281-937-7530. We will be happy to hear from you.