How often should I perio chart?
The AAP recommends annual periodontal charting/evaluation on all adult patients. Legal age considered for adulthood would be 18, but in many cases waiting until that age for the first periodontal chart to be recorded, a clinician will find themselves overlooking / documenting active infection.
Why is perio maintenance every 3 months?
Periodontal maintenance takes place within three months because that is the estimated time for the bacteria to reproduce and affect the teeth and gums. These bacteria will multiply so constant maintenance visits are necessary to prevent their growth.
How long is periodontal probing?
No matter what systematic approach is used, it should be comfortable for the dental hygienist and followed during each patient assessment. Experienced clinicians should be able to complete a full mouth probing and recording in approximately 10 minutes.
How many probe readings are recorded for each tooth?
A periodontal probe (tiny gum ruler) is utilized to measure the pocket depths in millimeters along the gumline, on the front and back of each tooth, totaling 6 measurements per tooth. When listening to these numbers, 1, 2 and 3 millimeters are all normal, healthy gum attachments to the teeth.
Is perio maintenance forever?
Perio maintenance is every three months for life – the life of the patient or life of the dentition. This is not an arbitrary interval. When a biofilm is forming, the early colonizing bacteria are not pathogenic; they cannot cause perio disease.
Do periodontal pockets heal?
Periodontal pockets are a symptom of periodontitis (gum disease), a serious oral infection. Periodontal pockets can be treated and reversed with good oral hygiene or with dental treatment.
Is periodontal probing necessary?
The periodontal probe allows evaluation of disease severity, progress, and the result of therapeutic efforts. It is an essential instrument in periodontal disease prevention and maintenance.
Does periodontal probing hurt?
Periodontal probing should not be an unpleasant experience for your patient unless the tissue is inflamed or your technique is heavy-handed. If the tissue is inflamed and sore, using a small amount of topical anesthetic in the sulcus will help to alleviate discomfort.
How do I make Perio probe faster?
0:062:13Probing do's and don'ts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTo stay adapted don't let the probe come across the long axis of the tooth. Instead keep the probeMoreTo stay adapted don't let the probe come across the long axis of the tooth. Instead keep the probe parallel with the long axis of the tooth at all times by pivoting on the fulcrum.
How often do dentists probe?
According to Frank DeLuca, DMD, JD, the standard of care in dentistry for periodontal charting is a full-mouth, six-point probing with all numbers recorded at a minimum of once per year for all adult patients.
Can you shrink periodontal pockets?
Scaling and root planing helps to shrink periodontal pockets and can heal gum tissue. This treatment prevents further infection, and keeps your teeth and gums looking and feeling great. After scaling and root planing most patients notice their gums recede less, and they are restored.
How deep can periodontal pockets get?
In a healthy mouth, the pocket depth is usually between 1 and 3 millimeters (mm). Pockets deeper than 4 mm may indicate periodontitis. Pockets deeper than 5 mm cannot be cleaned well. Take dental X-rays to check for bone loss in areas where your dentist observes deeper pocket depths.
Can you alternate between prophy and perio maintenance?
If you have periodontal disease, you'll schedule alternating prophy and perio maintenance to prevent your periodontitis from worsening. Both of these deeper cleanings help reduce the effects of periodontitis and give your dentist the opportunity to check on your dental health.
Why is perio maintenance necessary?
Periodontal maintenance refers to a procedure carried out to clean your teeth thoroughly. Maintenance is crucial as it prevents periodontal disease from spreading. Bacteria produced by plaque may colonize on the gum tissue resulting in gingivitis and periodontal disease.
How do you explain perio maintenance?
Similar to a regular teeth cleaning, periodontal maintenance removes tartar buildup from the teeth. Unlike a normal, preventative cleaning, periodontal maintenance is a treatment prescribed to combat periodontal disease.
Is periodontal maintenance the same as deep cleaning?
Periodontal maintenance is only needed for people who have periodontal disease, so if your oral health is in great shape, you won't need to get a deep cleaning. Deep cleaning is performed to stop periodontal disease from advancing.