Periodontal Maintenance

Gum disease is caused by bacteria that collect below the gumline, where a toothbrush and floss can't reach. When those pockets deepen, the bacteria have a protected place to live, and the body's response to that infection gradually breaks down the bone and tissue holding teeth in place. Scaling and root planing — a deep cleaning that removes hardened deposits from the root surfaces — clears out that bacteria and allows the tissue to reattach and firm up. What it doesn't do is make the pockets disappear permanently. Bacteria begin repopulating those spaces within weeks.

Periodontal maintenance picks up where that treatment ends. At each visit, our hygienist cleans above and below the gumline, measures pocket depths to compare them against your previous readings, removes plaque and tartar from root surfaces, and polishes the teeth. Because treated gums recolonize faster than healthy ones, these visits are usually scheduled more often than the standard twice-a-year cleaning — commonly every three to four months, though the interval depends on what we find. Patients who have had gum grafting, periodontal surgery, crown lengthening, or periodontal regeneration here follow the same principle, and the same applies to implant maintenance, since the tissue around an implant is just as vulnerable to bacterial inflammation as the tissue around a natural tooth.

This care is for anyone who has been diagnosed and treated for periodontal disease, but the situations vary widely. Some patients come to us after years of bleeding gums they assumed were normal. Others notice a tooth feeling slightly loose, persistent bad breath, gums that have pulled back and made teeth look longer, or sensitivity along the root surface. Smokers, patients managing diabetes, people with a family history of gum disease, and those who have gone a long stretch without dental care all tend to need closer monitoring.

We also see patients who transferred from another office and were told they'd need to stay on a periodontal schedule indefinitely. That's accurate — once the supporting bone has been lost, it doesn't regrow on its own, so the goal becomes stability rather than reversal. Catching changes early matters, which is why we track measurements visit over visit instead of relying on how the gums look on a given day. If a pocket is deepening in one area, we'd rather address it with targeted treatment than discover it a year later. Because we accept patients without a referral for periodontal care, you can begin here directly, and our on-site dental lab means any restorative work that goes along with your treatment can often be handled without long waits.

Insurance, Payment, and Getting Started

We accept all major PPO insurance plans and file claims as a General Practitioner. Many plans cover periodontal maintenance at a set frequency, and we're glad to help you understand what yours includes before treatment begins. We also welcome self-pay and cash patients, and flexible payment plans are available for those who'd rather spread the cost out.

For more than 30 years, our team has cared for families throughout Marion County and the surrounding communities, from Dunnellon and Reddick to Lady Lake and Weirsdale. If your gums have been treated before — or if something doesn't feel right — call us and we'll get you scheduled. Dr. Salifu, Dr. Geris, and our hygiene team will walk you through exactly where things stand and what comes next.