Periodontal Care
Ongoing Gum Care That Protects Your Smile
Periodontitis is a chronic condition that requires ongoing management even after active treatment. At Loudoun Innovative Dentistry, periodontal maintenance helps control bacterial buildup, monitor gum and bone health, and reduce the risk of future disease progression for patients throughout Brambleton, Ashburn, and Arcola.
For patients in Brambleton who've completed scaling and root planing or other periodontal therapy, maintenance is the long-term phase of care that follows active treatment. Consistent maintenance is an important part of keeping periodontal disease stable over time and protecting the teeth and supporting tissues.
Book OnlineWhat Is Periodontal Maintenance?
Periodontal maintenance is ongoing professional care for patients with a history of periodontitis. Visits include evaluation of your periodontal condition and removal of plaque and calculus above and below the gumline as needed, with particular attention to previously affected areas. Periodontal measurements and X-rays are updated when clinically appropriate to monitor stability over time.
How It Differs From a Regular Cleaning
A routine preventive cleaning is intended for patients without a history of periodontitis. Periodontal maintenance is designed for patients already treated for periodontal disease and requires continued attention to areas where attachment or bone loss has occurred. If you've had scaling and root planing, your ongoing care generally changes to periodontal maintenance rather than returning automatically to a routine cleaning schedule.
Who Needs Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal maintenance is recommended for patients who have completed scaling and root planing for periodontitis, had prior gum surgery, or have a history of periodontitis involving attachment or bone loss. It also applies to patients whose periodontal disease was caught and treated years ago but who remain at ongoing risk.
- Completed scaling and root planing for periodontitis
- History of prior gum surgery
- Attachment or bone loss from past periodontal disease
- Treated years ago but still at ongoing risk
How Often You'll Need It
Many patients on periodontal maintenance are seen approximately every three to four months, although the interval is individualized based on periodontal stability, home care, smoking, diabetes, pocket depths, bleeding, and other risk factors. Your recommended schedule may change over time as your periodontal condition changes.
Supporting Your Maintenance Between Visits
For selected patients, adjunctive home-care options such as Perio Protect may also be discussed to support bacterial control between professional visits. These options are used in addition to daily brushing and interdental cleaning and do not replace periodontal maintenance.
Why Consistency Matters
Periodontitis can become active again when bacterial buildup and inflammation return. Consistent periodontal maintenance, together with effective home care and management of risk factors, helps reduce the likelihood of further attachment loss, bone loss, and eventual tooth loss.
Where It Fits in Your Treatment Path
Periodontal maintenance is the long-term phase of periodontal therapy that follows active treatment such as scaling and root planing or periodontal surgery. Active treatment addresses existing disease, while maintenance focuses on monitoring stability, removing new deposits as needed, and reducing the risk of future progression.
What Happens If Inflammation Returns
If bleeding, deeper pockets, calculus buildup, or other signs of active disease appear, Dr. Mahgoub and the hygiene team will reassess the area. Treatment may range from improving home care or localized nonsurgical therapy to additional scaling and root planing or periodontal referral, depending on the findings. Regular maintenance visits help identify changes before they become more extensive.
Cost & Insurance
Periodontal maintenance is typically billed as a distinct procedure from a routine preventive cleaning. Many dental plans include periodontal-maintenance benefits, but frequency limitations, deductibles, and patient responsibility vary by plan. Our team can review your benefits before treatment, and our in-house membership plan ($299/year) offers 30% off many treatments for patients without insurance.
Scheduling Around Your Life
We know a three-to-four-month schedule is more frequent than most patients are used to, and life in Brambleton, Ashburn, and surrounding areas gets busy. Our office works with patients to find a maintenance rhythm that's realistic to keep — whether that's booking the next visit before leaving the office or a reminder call or text closer to the date.
