Hearing that you have periodontal disease (commonly called "gum disease") can be overwhelming, especially if your teeth don't hurt. One of the most common things we hear at RiNo Dental is:
"I've never been told I had this before."
Or...
"Why do I suddenly need a deep cleaning instead of a regular cleaning?"
Let's break down what periodontal disease actually is, why treatment is necessary, and what to expect moving forward.
Many people use the terms interchangeably, but they are actually different conditions.
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. It's caused by plaque and bacteria sitting around the gums, leading to inflammation.
Signs of gingivitis may include:
The good news? Gingivitis is reversible. With professional treatment and good home care, your gums can return to a healthy state because there has not yet been any permanent damage to the bone supporting your teeth.
Periodontal disease develops when the bacteria beneath the gums begin destroying the bone and ligaments that hold your teeth in place.
Unlike gingivitis, the bone loss caused by periodontal disease cannot grow back on its own. Once that support is lost, our goal becomes stopping the disease from progressing further.
Think of it like this:
If gingivitis is a small leak in your roof, periodontal disease is what happens after that leak has been ignored for years and starts damaging the structure of your home.
The sooner it's treated, the better your chances of keeping your teeth healthy for life.
A regular cleaning and a deep cleaning are designed for two completely different situations.
A routine cleaning is performed when the gums are generally healthy. It removes plaque and tartar above the gumline and slightly below it to help prevent disease.
When periodontal disease is present, bacteria and hardened tartar have collected much deeper under the gums where a regular cleaning cannot safely or effectively reach.
A deep cleaning:
This is treatment for an active infection, not simply a more extensive cleaning.
Unfortunately, no.
Periodontal disease is considered a chronic condition, similar to high blood pressure or diabetes. While we can't reverse the bone that has already been lost, we can often control the disease and prevent it from getting worse.
Many patients keep their teeth for decades after diagnosis with proper treatment and maintenance.
Once your deep cleaning is complete, your hygienist will reevaluate your gums.
Many patients are surprised to learn they don't go back to regular cleanings every six months.
Instead, most patients with periodontal disease are placed on periodontal maintenance.
Periodontal maintenance is not the same thing as a regular cleaning.
Because periodontal disease never truly goes away, harmful bacteria begin recolonizing beneath the gums much faster than they do in healthy mouths.
Research has shown that these bacteria can return to disease-causing levels in approximately 90 days, which is why periodontal maintenance is commonly recommended every 3 to 4 months.
During a periodontal maintenance appointment, your hygienist will:
These visits are designed to keep the disease stable and help you avoid future tooth loss.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions we see.
Dental insurance companies don't determine treatment recommendations. Your dentist and hygienist do, based on your clinical findings.
Insurance simply decides whether they will help pay for the treatment.
Most dental plans recognize periodontal maintenance as the appropriate procedure after active periodontal therapy has been completed. In many cases, insurance will not pay for a regular cleaning instead because a regular cleaning is no longer considered the correct treatment for someone with periodontal disease.
However, every insurance plan is different.
Coverage depends on factors such as:
Some plans cover periodontal maintenance at 100%, while others may cover 80%, 50%, or require an out-of-pocket portion. Unfortunately, your dental office has no control over these benefits.
Not at all.
A periodontal disease diagnosis does not mean you'll lose your teeth.
The vast majority of patients who follow their recommended treatment schedule, maintain excellent home care, and keep up with their periodontal maintenance visits are able to successfully manage their disease for many years.
The earlier it's diagnosed, the better the long-term outlook.
Being diagnosed with periodontal disease can feel scary, but it's also an opportunity to protect your oral health before more damage occurs.
Treatment is designed to stop the infection, preserve the bone you still have, and help you keep your natural teeth for as long as possible.
If you have questions about why periodontal treatment was recommended, what your insurance covers, or what your next steps are, our team is always happy to walk you through it. We believe patients make the best decisions when they fully understand what's happening in their mouths.
