Supportive Periodontal Maintenance

This is a personalized maintenance program of care to keep your gums healthy. Maintenance therapy is an ongoing program designed to prevent disease in the gum tissues and bone supporting your teeth. Adherence to a program of conscientious home oral care and regularly scheduled maintenance therapy visits with your dentist and Dr. Lebowitz will give you an excellent chance of keeping your teeth for your lifetime. Regular maintenance is required to remove sticky plaque and hardened rough deposits from your teeth, above and below the gum line.  Daily brushing and flossing will help minimize plaque and bacteria levels but it won’t completely prevent it.

Your maintenance/supportive periodontal care visit may include:

• discussion of any changes in your health history
• examination of your mouth tissues for abnormal changes
• measurement of the depth of pockets around your teeth
• assessment of your oral hygiene habits and provision of instruction
• removal of bacterial plaque and tartar
• x-ray film studies to evaluate your teeth and the bone supporting your teeth

Your maintenance interval is individual and dependant upon:

• the type of periodontal disease you need
• the type of periodontal treatment you have
• your response to treatment
• your rate of plaque growth
• your personal commitment to good oral care at home

What is the relationship between your dentist and Dr. Lebowitz?

Your dentist and Dr. Lebowitz work together as a team to provide you with the best possible care. They combine their experience to formulate the best maintenance plan for you. They keep each other informed about your progress. Although Dr. Lebowitz may see you periodically for maintenance therapy, you will need to see your general dentist as well. Appointments for periodontal maintenance do not replace regular dental checkups. If Dr. Lebowitz detects tooth decay during a maintenance visit, she will refer you to your general dentist for treatment. Your general dentist is primarily responsible for your overall dental health, including such dental needs as filling new or recurrent cavities or making changes in fillings, crowns or bridges.

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Everyone should experience the benefits of great gums. But with gum disease affecting 7 out of 10 Canadians, not many of us do.

For more information about combating gum disease visit greatgums.ca