Supportive Periodontal Treatment (SPT)
Once the diseases have been arrested, patients are seen regularly for supportive periodontal treatment. This ongoing phase of treatment will allow your periodontist to assess your periodontal health and make sure your infection stays under control. During SPT, your mouth is examined, new calculus and plaque are removed, and, if necessary, your teeth are polished and your bite is checked. Periodontal diseases are chronic diseases, just like diabetes. Without careful, ongoing treatment, disease can and often do recur.
How can periodontal diseases be prevented? To keep your teeth for a lifetime, you must remove the plaque from your teeth and gums every day by brushing and flossing. Review how you brush and floss with your dental professional. He or she can help you fine-tune your technique, so that your at-home efforts are even more effective. Regular dental visits also are important. Daily cleaning will keep calculus formation to a minimum, but it won’t completely prevent it. A professional cleaning at least twice a year is necessary to remove calculus from places your toothbrush, floss and other cleaning aids may have missed. If you’ve had periodontal disease and have been treated, you may need professional maintenance more frequently. Remember, good oral hygiene and regular professional care are the keys to preventing periodontal diseases. Teeth were meant to last a lifetime, and with a little tender, loving care, they can.
