🦷 Why Am I Getting a Periodontal Maintenance Instead of a “Regular Cleaning”?
Thank you for trusting us with your dental care! We understand it can be confusing when your cleaning appointment type changes. Here’s a quick explanation:
What Is a Prophy (Regular Cleaning)?
A prophy, or preventive cleaning, is for patients with healthy gums and no history of gum disease. It’s meant to remove plaque and tartar to help prevent disease.
What Is Periodontal Maintenance?
Periodontal maintenance is for patients who have been treated for gum disease (periodontitis)—usually with a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing).
After gum disease has been diagnosed and treated, ongoing care is needed to prevent it from returning or getting worse. This type of cleaning goes deeper below the gumline to reach the root surface of the teeth. It removes bacteria and tartar that can cause infection, bone loss, or tooth loss.
What Is Scaling and Root Planing?
Scaling and Root Planing is a deep cleaning procedure used to treat gum disease—also called periodontal disease. It’s a little more involved than a regular dental cleaning because it goes below the gumline where bacteria and plaque can build up and cause damage.
Here’s what it involves:
Scaling:
 We carefully remove plaque, tartar (hardened plaque), and bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth, especially below the gumline where your toothbrush can’t reach.Root Planing:
 Once the plaque and tartar are removed, we smooth out the roots of your teeth. This helps your gums reattach to your teeth and makes it harder for bacteria to stick in the future.
Why do you need it? If you have gum disease, your gums may be pulling away from your teeth, forming pockets where bacteria can grow. If left untreated, this can lead to bone loss and tooth loss. Scaling and root planing helps stop the infection and prevent it from getting worse.
Does it hurt? We usually numb the area with local anesthesia, so you’re comfortable during the procedure. Afterward, your gums might feel a little sore or sensitive, but most people manage this easily.
What Is Laser Decontamination?
Laser decontamination is an optional but highly recommended procedure that can be added to your periodontal maintenance visit. It is also a procedure we highly recommend to be done at the same time as a scaling and root planing procedure.
A gentle dental laser is used to target and kill harmful bacteria under the gums.
It helps reduce inflammation, promote healing, and lower the risk of gum disease flare-ups.
The process is quick, comfortable, and safe—most patients feel little to no discomfort.
Think of it as an extra level of cleaning power that goes beyond what traditional instruments can reach, helping your gums stay healthy for longer between visits.
Why Can’t I Go Back to a Prophy?
Once gum disease has been diagnosed, it becomes a chronic condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure. It needs ongoing, specialized care to stay stable.
A prophy is not designed to clean deep pockets or maintain treated gum tissue.
Switching back could allow gum disease to return or progress.
Dental insurance usually won’t cover a prophy after gum disease has been diagnosed.
Our Goal
We want to help you protect your gums, teeth, and bone for life. Periodontal maintenance appointments are one of the most important tools we have to keep your smile healthy.