The most common gum diseases are gingivitis and periodontitis. Both are caused by poor oral hygiene, which encourages the accumulation of bacteria. Over time, dental plaque forms and, if not removed, solidifies to form tartar or dental calculus. At this point, the oral hygiene we perform at home is no longer sufficient to eliminate it and encourages bacteria to multiply, reaching the inside of the gum and beginning to destroy the bone, which can even lead to tooth mobility and loss.
We see slight bleeding or inflammation of the gums, but we do not give it the importance it really has. These signs indicate that we should check the gums, since untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis.
To prevent the disease from worsening and recurring, patients should have regular check-ups (every 3-6 months) and undergo maintenance to ensure their oral health.
Why should I go for periodontal maintenance?
It is common for patients who have been going for maintenance for a long time and do not have any problems to want to extend their appointments or even replace them with a dental cleaning.
In the short term, it may be thought that doing so reduces discomfort and treatment costs, however, it is important to remember that the objective of maintenance is prevention and that the patient does not have problems is a direct consequence of said maintenance.
The importance of proper maintenance to maintain the patient’s oral health is essential. Scientific evidence has shown that compliance with periodontal and peri-implant maintenance is crucial to control periodontal disease and prevent the appearance of problems around dental implants (Peri-implantitis) in healthy patients.
In patients who attend their maintenance regularly every 3-6 months, the progression of the disease remains stable and fewer teeth are lost.
The progression of periodontal disease around implants is three times faster than in a tooth.
Why do some patients have to come more frequently?
At Clínica Juana María Fernández, periodontal maintenance is a treatment that is individualized for each patient.
The periodicity of maintenance is evaluated in a personalized way, taking into account the factors that favor the patient’s susceptibility to suffer from the disease, increasing the risk of these patients developing the disease in a more severe way, contributing to faster bone loss and subsequent tooth loss.
Factors that are analyzed to determine a patient’s risk include:
Poor oral hygiene.
Tabacco
Genetics
Diabetes Mellitus
-Stress
Inflammatory diseases (arthritis, obesity, hypercholesterolemia…)
In conclusion, with periodontal maintenance we manage to keep periodontal disease under control, delaying or slowing down its evolution. We reduce the number of teeth lost due to periodontal disease and the number of implants affected by peri-implantitis. It allows us to diagnose early reactivation of periodontal disease and prevent its progression. We also delay the appearance of cavities by controlling bacterial plaque and applying fluoride as a method of remineralization of the tooth.
