This question is often asked after periodontal treatment. Frequent periodontal cleanings keep the areas under the gums free of bacteria and biofilm. The dental hygienist is able to retreat any areas before damage occurs. Let me explain.
Periodontal disease is painless and once bone loss becomes significant it may be too late to do anything but remove the diseased tooth. For this reason it is wise to treat the early stages before bone loss is irreversible. Periodontal disease is most often not curable, but it can be managed to prevent further bone loss and loose teeth.
Basically, periodontal disease is a condition where specific toxic bacterial populations invade the space between the teeth and gums. (The bad breath odor of periodontitis is very noticeable and quite specific. Usually a clinician can make a preliminary diagnosis just from the smell.) This bacterial invasion causes damage to the surrounding tissues as a result of the body’s inflammatory response and the lethal effects of bacteria on living tissue. Even after treatment the cleansed pockets around each tooth remain exposed to new armies of bacteria to re-populate the original spaces between the teeth and gums. Home cleanings are not always able to remove the toxic debris in these areas. Your dental hygienist has the special tools and skills maintain healing gums.
Bone heals slowly. Healing bone is very sensitive to the inflammatory processes that accompany periodontal disease. Bone will not “fill in” or grow to a healthy state as long as the disease process is allowed to proceed unchecked. Once management of the disease is stabilized cleaning intervals can be changed according to each person’s recovery rate.
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