On this page
- What is periodontal maintenance?
- How is maintenance different from a regular cleaning?
- What happens at a maintenance visit?
- How often will you need maintenance, and for how long?
- What happens if you skip maintenance visits?
- What should you ask about cost and insurance?
- Care at Perio One
- When to call us
- What to expect
- Common questions
At a glance
- Periodontal maintenance is the ongoing care that follows treatment for gum disease, not a routine cleaning.
- It cleans below the gumline and rechecks your gum measurements at every visit.
- Intervals are set for you individually, often starting around every three months.
- You may alternate maintenance visits with your general dentist once your gums are stable.
- Dental implants are checked at these visits too, alongside your natural teeth.
What is periodontal maintenance?
Periodontal maintenance is the ongoing care that follows active treatment for gum disease, such as scaling and root planing. It cleans below the gumline and rechecks your gum measurements, rather than just polishing the visible surfaces of your teeth.
It exists because periodontitis is controlled, not cured. Bone lost to the disease generally doesn't grow back, so keeping inflammation low is what protects the teeth you have left.
Maintenance isn't a lesser version of treatment. It's the schedule that keeps treated gum disease from becoming active again.
How is maintenance different from a regular cleaning?
A regular cleaning is meant for gums that are healthy or only mildly inflamed. Periodontal maintenance is for gums that have already had periodontitis, so it reaches further below the gumline and checks for signs the disease is returning.
The two visits look similar from the chair, but they measure different things and often run on different schedules. Someone with healthy gums may see their general dentist twice a year; someone on periodontal maintenance often comes more often than that.
| What's compared | Routine cleaning | Periodontal maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | People with healthy gums or mild gingivitis | People treated for periodontitis |
| What is cleaned | Tooth surfaces above and just below the gumline | Below the gumline, including areas that trap bacteria |
| What is measured | A general check of the gums | Pocket depths and bleeding at every visit |
| Typical interval | Twice a year is common | Often set individually, frequently starting near every three months |
| Who you see | Usually your general dentist | Often alternates between your periodontist and general dentist |
What happens at a maintenance visit?
A maintenance visit starts with measuring the pockets around each tooth and checking for bleeding, much like the periodontal exam that found your gum disease in the first place. Any changes are compared against your earlier chart.
Cleaning then focuses below the gumline, removing plaque and tartar from areas a toothbrush can't reach. X-rays are taken periodically, not at every visit, to check the bone around your teeth and implants.
Some visits also include a look at your soft tissues as part of an oral cancer check, sometimes with VELscope® screening as an added look alongside the visual exam.
How often will you need maintenance, and for how long?
Most people start around every three months, though your periodontist sets the actual interval based on how your gums respond. Some people stretch to four months over time; others need to stay closer to three.
It's typically ongoing rather than a fixed course, because periodontitis is controlled rather than cured. Many patients alternate visits between their periodontist and their general dentist once things are stable.
Good cleaning at home between visits also affects how far your interval can safely stretch.
What happens if you skip maintenance visits?
Skipping maintenance visits lets plaque and tartar rebuild in the pockets that were cleaned out. For many people, that means gum disease becomes active again, sometimes without much warning.
The longer the gap, the more the damage can echo the earlier disease: deeper pockets, more bleeding, and potentially more bone loss. Catching a lapse early, rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit, limits how far it goes.
What should you ask about cost and insurance?
Periodontal maintenance is usually billed differently than a routine cleaning, since it's a different, more involved procedure. How your dental plan handles that difference varies quite a bit from plan to plan.
We can help you understand your plan's answers, though coverage decisions are ultimately up to your insurer.
- Ask whether your plan covers periodontal maintenance the same way as a routine cleaning
- Ask how many maintenance visits your plan covers each year
- Ask whether X-rays taken at maintenance visits are covered separately
- Ask what you'd pay if you need active treatment again
Care at Perio One
At Perio One, your periodontal maintenance interval is set individually, based on how your gums respond after treatment, not a fixed schedule for everyone. Dr. Randal Comeaux, DDS, Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, rechecks your measurements at each visit to see whether that interval still fits.
For patients in Lafayette who split care between offices, we coordinate with your general dentist so your maintenance visits and your regular checkups work together.
Referrals are welcome, and our periodontal maintenance program covers dental implants as well as natural teeth.
When to call us
- Bleeding comes back between visits
- A tooth or implant feels loose
- Swelling or tenderness around an implant
- It has been longer than your recommended interval since your last visit
Our periodontists, Dr. Randal Comeaux and Dr. Lauren Langlois, can talk through what you’re noticing.
Call to scheduleWhat to expect
- Recall reminder
We schedule your next maintenance visit based on your last measurements.
- Health history check
We ask about any changes in your health or medicines since your last visit.
- Measurements
Your pockets are measured again and checked for bleeding at every visit.
- Cleaning below the gumline
Plaque and tartar are removed from areas a toothbrush can't reach.
- Your next interval
Dr. Comeaux lets you know whether your interval should stay the same or change.
Common questions
Is periodontal maintenance forever?
For most people who've had periodontitis, yes, ongoing maintenance is part of keeping it controlled, since the disease doesn't fully go away. The interval can sometimes lengthen over time if your gums stay stable.
Why is periodontal maintenance every 3 months?
Three months is a common starting interval because it's roughly how long it takes plaque and tartar to rebuild enough to matter below the gumline. Your periodontist may adjust it once your gums show how they respond.
Is periodontal maintenance covered by insurance?
It depends on your plan. Some cover it much like a routine cleaning, and others limit how many visits they'll pay for each year, so it's worth asking your insurer directly.
How long does a periodontal maintenance appointment take?
It typically takes longer than a routine cleaning, often close to an hour, because it involves measuring your gums and cleaning below the gumline in more detail.
Is periodontal maintenance the same as a deep cleaning?
No. A deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, is the active treatment that comes first. Periodontal maintenance is the ongoing care that follows it, to keep the results from slipping.
Sources
- American Academy of Periodontology: Non-surgical treatments
- American Academy of Periodontology: Gum disease prevention
- Cleveland Clinic: Scaling and root planing
This page is general education, not a diagnosis. Your periodontist will recommend care after an examination.