Gum Care
Periodontal Maintenance in Gladstone
Keeping treated gums healthy for the long run.
Gum disease can be controlled, but it needs steady attention. Periodontal maintenance visits pick up where a deep cleaning leaves off, so the progress you have made stays in place.
Exceptional Dentistry in Gladstone, MO
Why periodontal maintenance matters
Once gums have been affected by periodontal disease, the pockets around the teeth can make it easier for bacteria to gather again, even with good brushing and flossing at home. Periodontal maintenance is a tailored cleaning designed for exactly that situation, reaching the areas below the gumline that were treated during scaling and root planing. Each visit is also a check-in: your gums are measured and examined so that any change can be spotted early. Your dentist will recommend how often to return based on how your gums are responding, which is frequently more often than a standard cleaning schedule. Think of it as the routine that protects the investment you have already made in your gum health.
At each visit
What a maintenance appointment includes
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Cleaning below the gumline
Plaque and tartar are removed from the pockets around your teeth as well as from the visible surfaces.
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Gum measurements
The depth of the spaces between your teeth and gums is checked and compared with earlier visits.
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A look at the whole mouth
Your teeth, gums and soft tissues are examined, and X-rays may be taken when your dentist needs a closer view.
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Home care coaching
You’ll get practical tips for the spots that are hardest to reach with a brush and floss.
How it differs from a routine cleaning
A standard dental cleaning is preventive care for healthy gums. Periodontal maintenance is ongoing therapy for gums that have already been treated for disease, so it goes deeper and involves closer monitoring. If your gums stay stable over time, your dentist will let you know whether your schedule can change.
New patient special
$98
A $308 value for your first visit
Visiting us for the first time? Our new patient offer includes:
- Comprehensive exam
- Panoramic X-rays
- Bitewing digital X-rays
- Intraoral photos
- Smile evaluation
- Full gum evaluation
- Oral cancer screening
- TMJ and bite evaluation
- Review of your treatment options
- A written treatment plan
Your part
Protecting your gums between visits
- Brush gently along the gumline twice a day with a soft brush
- Clean between your teeth every day with floss or the tools your dentist recommends
- Keep your maintenance appointments, even when your gums feel fine
- Let your dentist know about bleeding, swelling or tenderness right away
Book your visit
Stay on track with your gum care
Whether you’re continuing care after a deep cleaning or are new to our office, we’ll review your gum health and set up a maintenance plan that fits you.
The short answer
Periodontal maintenance is a specialized cleaning for patients who have been treated for gum disease, designed to keep that disease from returning or progressing. At each visit, plaque and tartar are removed above and below the gumline, the pockets around your teeth are measured and compared with earlier visits, and your mouth is examined. It continues the work of scaling and root planing, and your dentist sets how often you return, frequently more often than a standard cleaning schedule, based on how your gums respond.
Periodontal Maintenance FAQ
- Do I still need maintenance if my gums feel fine?
- Yes, you still need periodontal maintenance when your gums feel fine. Gum disease often has no obvious symptoms, and the pockets below the gumline can collect bacteria even when your mouth feels healthy. Regular visits let your dentist clean those areas and measure your gums so any change is spotted early.
- Is periodontal maintenance the same as a regular cleaning?
- No, periodontal maintenance is not the same as a regular cleaning. A standard cleaning is preventive care for healthy gums, while periodontal maintenance is ongoing therapy for patients with a history of gum disease. It cleans below the gumline in the areas treated during scaling and root planing, and it tracks changes in your gum measurements over time.
- How often will I need periodontal maintenance?
- Your dentist sets your periodontal maintenance schedule based on how your gums respond. It is often more frequent than a routine cleaning schedule, because treated pockets can let bacteria gather again more easily. Your gum measurements at each visit help show whether the schedule is working for you.
- Can I ever go back to regular cleanings?
- That depends on how stable your gums remain over time. Your dentist will review your measurements with you at each visit and compare them with earlier ones. If your gums stay stable, your dentist will let you know whether your schedule can change.
Your dentist
Meet Dr. Emily Marx
A skilled family dentist, Dr. Marx is passionate about helping patients feel comfortable while achieving their best smile. Meet Dr. Marx
