Periodontal Hygiene and Maintenance Procedure
Periodontal maintenance (cleanings and evaluations) is a vital component in the overall success and care of periodontal treatment. Beyond simply cleaning the periodontal structures to maximize treatment results, frequent maintenance allows our team to re-assess your periodontal health, refine treatment plans, and tailor treatment for any individual.
Scaling and Root Planing
When dental plaque hardens and calcifies, it is called calculus. This living environment of bacteria can easily hide from the patient when normal, regular hygiene is performed leading to inflammation and even bone loss. When this occurs, the calculus needs to be removed from the roots, which are under the gum tissues. This is performed by a non-invasive procedure called scaling and root planing which is often called a “deep cleaning.” During this procedure, Dr. Temlock will anesthetize the areas needing treatment so you can rest assured the procedure will be performed in a pain-free manner.
Oral Hygiene Review and Recommendations
Optimal oral hygiene and home care is the corner-stone for the long-term success of any treatment. Dr. Temlock’s team believes that all patients need education and tools to effectively clean their teeth to maximize treatment outcomes, minimize post-treatment complications, and maintain oral health in the future. As such, our team will review your current oral hygiene practices and offer professional recommendations on areas of improvement. After all, treatment success completely depends on the compliance of our patients when they are not in our office on a daily basis, so giving patients oral hygiene instructions and recommendations which is tailored to their individual needs is a basic service offered to all patients.
Placement of Desensitizing / Agents & Medications
Often times, patients complain of thermal sensitivity as a result of their periodontal issues. Dr. Temlock’s team can provide recommendations and treatments aimed to reduce patient sensitivity in the mouth. When used appropriately and in conjunction with periodontal treatment or maintenance, desensitizing agents and medications usually provide a significant reduction in sensitivity for patients.