Periodontal maintenance

Following completion of active periodontal therapy, regular supportive maintenance is essential to prevent disease recurrence. Periodontal pathogens can recolonize treated sites within weeks, and without consistent maintenance, clinical attachment loss will typically resume.

Periodontal maintenance appointments involve thorough subgingival debridement of all affected sites, updated full-mouth periodontal probing and charting, radiographic monitoring at clinically appropriate intervals, and assessment of the patient's home care and systemic health factors affecting periodontal stability.

Maintenance frequency is individualized based on disease severity, residual pocket depths, patient compliance, and systemic risk factors — typically every 3 to 4 months rather than the standard 6-month interval for periodontally healthy patients.