SUPPORTIVE PERIODONTAL TREATMENT

 

Unfortunately, for the majority of people with gum disease, strategic supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) is required long term.  This is because periodontitis is a chronic condition stemming largely from how you body reacts to bacterial deposits in your mouth – not from simply having plaque and tartar.  This means that many periodontal conditions are seldom cured, just managed.  However, periodontal disease can be very well managed with the right recipe in place.  An effective combination of the right sort of cleans and careful home care monitoring/support is proven to be effective for the majority of the population.

After your periodontal treatment, a personalised supportive periodontal treatment program will be recommended, designed to prevent disease recurrence and keep your mouth as stable and healthy as possible.

  1. Risk factors such as genetics, smoking and diabetes

  2. Self care patterns and proficiency at brushing and flossing

  3. Severity of periodontal disease

  4. Overall periodontal stability and presence of any bleeding or inflamed gums, or areas of deep pocketing

What Happens at a Supportive Periodontal Therapy visit:

Your periodontist and hygienist will:

  1. Thoroughly examine your gums for bleeding and measure gum pockets

  2. Assess and manage systemic risk factors such as smoking and diabetes

  3. Assess proficiency at home oral hygiene care such as brushing and flossing

  4. Reassess and manage local risk factors such as grooves

  5. Review the need for any complex treatment such as periodontal surgery

  6. Thoroughly clean teeth to remove plaque and tartar from above AND below the gum line

  7. Decide on the best frequency for future supportive periodontal therapy visits

FAQs

1. Can I see my dentist instead?

If your dentist has referred you for management of your gum health, usually this means that the gum disease is too severe for them to effectively treat.

2. What do you do that is different to a scale and clean?

A scale and clean involves removing staining and calculus from above the gum, usually in one visit. Periodontal treatment involves removing calculus with specialised instruments, from deep under the gum line, over several appointments. Local anaesthetic (numbing) is also used.

3. Can I see my dentist for ongoing supportive periodontal care?

Once your gum health is stable, shared maintenance with your general dentist will be recommended, but most patients continue to see the periodontist as well. It is very important to continue to see your dentist for any ongoing restorative, cosmetic or endodontic treatment (fillings, crowns, root canal therapy).