Periodontal Maintenance in Brentwood, CA

At Fairview Dental Brentwood, we recognize that successfully treating gum disease is only the first step. Once you have completed Scaling and Root Planing (deep cleaning), your gums require a specialized level of ongoing care to prevent the infection from returning. This specialized care is known as Periodontal Maintenance.

Dr. Thuc Luu and our hygiene team provide these focused cleanings to monitor your pocket depths and keep harmful bacteria at bay, ensuring your smile stays stable and healthy for years to come.

What is Periodontal Maintenance?

Periodontal disease is a chronic condition, much like diabetes or hypertension. While it cannot be “cured” in the traditional sense, it can be meticulously managed.

Unlike a standard “prophy” cleaning (which is for healthy mouths without bone loss), Periodontal Maintenance focuses on:

Deep Biofilm Removal: Cleaning deep into the pockets where normal brushing and flossing cannot reach.
Pocket Depth Monitoring: Measuring the space between your teeth and gums at every visit to ensure the tissue is staying tight and healthy.
Bone Level Assessment: Using Digital X-rays to ensure that bone loss has been halted.

Why 3 to 4 Months Instead of 6?

The most common question patients ask is why they need to come in more frequently. The answer lies in the behavior of oral bacteria:

The 90-Day Cycle: Scientific research shows that in patients with a history of gum disease, the aggressive bacteria that cause bone loss typically repopulate and reach peak levels every 90 to 120 days.
Preventing Relapse: By cleaning the pockets every 3 to 4 months, we disrupt these bacterial colonies before they can begin destroying the bone again.
Avoiding Repeat Procedures: Consistent maintenance is the best way to avoid needing another round of Scaling and Root Planing (deep cleaning) in the future.

What Happens During Your Maintenance Visit?

A Periodontal Maintenance appointment at our Brentwood office is more comprehensive than a routine cleaning:

Periodontal Charting: We measure your gum pockets. We look for “bleeding on probing,” which is the primary sign of active infection.
Ultrasonic Scaling: We use ultrasonic instruments to vibrate away tartar and flush out the sub-gingival pockets with medicated water.
Root Debridement: If any new rough spots have formed on the roots, we smooth them out to prevent bacteria from sticking.
Site-Specific Therapy: If a specific area shows signs of recurring infection, Dr. Luu may apply localized antibiotics or antimicrobial agents.

[Image showing the difference between a healthy gum attachment and a periodontal pocket with tartar buildup]

Why Choose Fairview Dental for Periodontal Care?

Dr. Thuc Luu and our hygiene team take a “whole-body” approach to your gum health.

Education-Focused: We don’t just clean your teeth; we show you the best tools (like water flossers or interdental brushes) to use at home in Brentwood to keep your results perfect.
State-of-the-Art Tools: Our ultrasonic scalers make the process faster, more comfortable, and more effective than traditional hand-scaling alone.
Coordinated Care: If your gum disease is particularly aggressive, we work closely with local Brentwood periodontists to ensure you receive the specialized care you need.

Protect Your Foundation

Your teeth are only as healthy as the gums and bone supporting them. At Fairview Dental Brentwood, we are committed to helping you stop the cycle of gum disease.

Contact us today at (925) 240-7253, book online, or visit our office in the Shops at Fairview to schedule an evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Service

How often should periodontal cleaning be done?

Periodontal maintenance appointments are usually recommended every three to four months. This frequent schedule is necessary to eradicate dangerous bacterial growth and maintain gum health after a patient has been diagnosed with periodontal disease.

What qualifies for periodontal maintenance?

This treatment is specifically prescribed for patients who have been diagnosed with periodontal (gum) disease and have already undergone initial scaling and root planing. It is necessary when tartar accumulates more than four millimeters below the gum line, creating pockets where bacteria thrive.

What happens if I skip periodontal maintenance?

Leaving periodontal disease unattended can lead to serious consequences, including chronic inflammation, infection, and bone loss. Additionally, untreated gum disease is linked to systemic health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.

Is perio maintenance the same as deep cleaning?

Periodontal maintenance is the ongoing treatment that follows a “deep cleaning” (scaling and root planing). While it also involves removing tartar from deep between the teeth and gums, it focuses on monitoring pocket depths and managing the site of the previous infection to prevent the disease from returning.

Is periodontal maintenance worth it?

Yes, because periodontal disease affects roughly three out of four patients and can lead to tooth loss if not managed. Periodontal maintenance is a vital treatment that protects your jawbone and overall systemic health by keeping bacterial growth under control.