Periodontal Maintenance
Finishing treatment for gum disease doesn’t mean your gums take care of themselves from here. Periodontal maintenance is a specialized cleaning that keeps bacteria from moving back into the areas below the gumline, protecting the progress you already worked to achieve. As part of our General & Family Dentistry services, it picks up where scaling and root planing leaves off, with cleanings built for gums that need more than a standard checkup. Emerald Dental provides periodontal maintenance at both our Lakewood and Littleton offices.
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Smile Fact
Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, yet it cannot repair itself once it is lost.
What Is Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal maintenance is ongoing professional care performed after treatment for gum disease to help maintain periodontal health and monitor for signs of recurrence. Unlike a routine dental cleaning, these visits focus more closely on areas affected by previous gum disease, including cleaning above and below the gumline where plaque and tartar can accumulate.
Your dental team may also monitor periodontal pocket depths, gum attachment, bleeding, and other changes that can indicate whether gum disease is remaining stable or becoming active again. Because a history of periodontitis increases the need for continued monitoring, periodontal maintenance becomes an important part of protecting the results of earlier treatment and managing your gum health over time.
How a Periodontal Maintenance Visit Works
Assessment.
Your gum pockets are measured and your progress since your last visit is reviewed, so any changes are caught early.
Deep Cleaning and Irrigation.
Plaque and tartar are removed from below the gumline, followed by an antibacterial rinse to flush out bacteria and support healing.
Polishing and Guidance.
Teeth are polished smooth for easier at-home cleaning, and you’ll leave with practical brushing and flossing guidance suited to your gums specifically.
Benefits of Periodontal Maintenance
Staying consistent with periodontal maintenance is what actually protects the results of earlier treatment, not just a formality between visits.
Keeps bacteria from re-establishing below the gumline
Preserves the bone and tissue that hold your teeth in place
Reduces bleeding and inflammation, improving comfort day to day
Fresher breath by removing the bacteria that cause odor
Catches small changes early, before they turn into bigger problems
Why Emerald Dental for Periodontal Maintenance
Your maintenance schedule is based on your actual gum condition and risk factors, not a generic recall interval applied to everyone. We track pocket depths and tissue health visit to visit, so if something’s trending the wrong direction, it’s caught early rather than after it’s become a bigger problem. Both our Lakewood and Littleton Dentists offer the same standard of care. Meet our doctors on our About Us page.
What Patients Are Saying
Real feedback from real patients across our Lakewood and Littleton offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I schedule periodontal maintenance?
Most patients come in every three to four months, more frequent than a standard six-month cleaning, since gum disease can return more easily without consistent monitoring. Your exact schedule depends on how your gums have responded since treatment.
What happens if I skip my maintenance visits?
Skipping visits gives bacteria time to rebuild below the gumline, which can let gum disease return and put the bone supporting your teeth at risk again. Staying on schedule is what keeps the results of your original treatment from being undone.
Is periodontal maintenance uncomfortable?
Most patients feel little to no discomfort, and any mild sensitivity is usually similar to what you’d feel after a regular cleaning. Your hygienist can adjust technique for your comfort if certain areas feel more sensitive.
How is this different from a regular cleaning?
A regular cleaning focuses on the visible surfaces of your teeth, while periodontal maintenance goes below the gumline to address the specific areas affected by gum disease. It’s a more targeted, deeper level of care built for a gum history a standard cleaning isn’t designed to manage.
Can I eventually go back to regular cleanings instead?
It depends on how stable your gums stay over time, some patients do transition back with sustained improvement, though many continue with periodontal maintenance long term for the added monitoring. Your dentist will let you know if and when that’s a realistic option for you.
Protect the Progress You Already Made
Treating gum disease is only part of the job; keeping it under control is what protects your progress long term. Periodontal maintenance helps manage the bacteria and buildup that can allow inflammation and infection to return between visits. Emerald Dental provides periodontal maintenance at our Lakewood and Littleton offices. Schedule your next visit and keep moving forward instead of starting over.
Find Us
Two Convenient Locations
Both offices are open Monday through Thursday and accept new patients of all ages.
Lakewood
Emerald Dental Lakewood
12093-A West Alameda Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80228
Littleton
Emerald Dental Littleton
2731 W Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 80123