Treaments and Services

• Treatment Methods
• Prophylaxis (Teeth Cleaning)
• Bruxism Treatments
• Scaling and Root Planning
• Bite Adjustment
• Osseous Surgery
• Gum Grafting
• Frenectomy
• Crown Lengthening
• Bone Grafting
• Guided Bone and Tissue Regeneration
• Sinus Augmentation
• Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery
• Oral Cancer Exam
• TMJ Dysfunction
• Tooth Extraction
• Microbial Testing
• Local Antibiotic Treatment
• Periodontal Maintenance & Support Therapy
• Dental Implants

Periodontal Maintenance

Supportive Periodontal Therapy

Since periodontal disease cannot be reversed and can be prone to recur, maintenance care after active treatment is of paramount importance. Also, it is unwise to delay or forgo periodontal maintenance and often costly, as well. Numerous studies have shown that lack of timely and adequate maintenance care increases the risk for disease recurrence and tooth loss. Maintenance is often a shared responsibility between Dr. Rubino, your general dentist and you.

Supportive periodontal therapy or periodontal maintenance includes non-surgical treatment performed to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums.� Periodontal maintenance differs from a prophylaxis (general dental cleaning). Prophylaxis is an important and routine dental treatment for preventing gum problems such as gingivitis. A periodontal maintenance appointment includes a dental prophylaxis but the scope of this appointment is much greater.

An appointment for periodontal maintenance is an effective procedure in keeping the oral cavity in proper health and includes:

• Updating Medical/Dental History including prescribed and over-the-counter drugs
• Clinical Examination of the teeth and gums to re-evaluate your periodontal health
• Periodic X-Rays
• Oral Cancer Screening Exam
• Evaluation and Reinforcement of Home Plaque control practices
• Plaque/Tartar removal. Tartar (also referred to as calculus) and plaque buildup, both above and below the gum line, can result in serious periodontal problems. Unfortunately, even with a proper home brushing and flossing routine, it can be impossible to remove all debris, bacteria and deposits around and below the gum line. The experienced eye of a periodontist or hygienist using specialized dental equipment is necessary to identify and thoroughly remove potentially damaging buildups.
• Tooth Polishing resulting in a healthier looking smile. Stained and yellowed teeth can dramatically decrease the esthetics of a smile.� Polishing is an effective in removing unsightly extrinsic staining of the teeth.
• After maintenance care you will likely notice fresher breath. Bad breath (or halitosis) is generally indicative of advancing periodontal disease.� The routine removal of plaque, calculus and bacteria at our facility can noticeably improve halitosis and reduce infection.

Periodontal maintenance can be performed at our office and by your general dentist. It may be beneficial to have your regular maintenance done by Dr. Rubino who is more familiar with the full scope of your periodontal disease. We recommend that prophylaxis be performed twice annually as a preventive measure, but periodontal maintenance should be completed every 3 months. In many cases, these treatments are alternated with your general dentist. It should be noted that gum disease cannot be completely reversed, but periodontal maintenance is one of the tools Dr. Rubino can use to effectively halt its progress.

IMPORTANT NOTE:Your periodontal maintenance appointments are not meant to take the place of your regular check-ups at your general dentist's office. Your general dentist is primarily responsible for evaluating your mouth for new cavities, and for restoring and maintaining aesthetics and function in the mouth which has suffered other dental problems. The purpose of our maintenance appointments is to concentrate on the health of the gums and bone around the teeth.