Reevaluation of Treatment

Following your root planing and scaling treatment, you will usually be asked to return to our office for a reevaluation examination to determine if further active therapy is indicated.

If Dr. Caldwell or Dimmitt find that further treatment will be needed to control your periodontal problem, he will develop a surgical treatment plan to help restore your smile to a state of health. This will usually require surgical treatment to further reduce your infection and to reduce residual pocket depths that are limiting access for bacterial control. Fortunately, our Doctors and Staff are extensively trained in the most current and effective techniques available to control the damaging effects of periodontal disease and to regenerate bone that has been destroyed by periodontal diseases. Your doctor will make specific recommendations concerning the most predictable treatment plan that will help re-establish your dental health and help you stabilize the overall health status that we are dedicated to maintain for our patients.

If our reevaluation shows that nonsurgical treatment has controlled your periodontal status, you will enter into a “maintenance” phase, or other specialized treatment for patients who have already been diagnosed with and treated for periodontal diseases. These cleaning appointments tend to be more thorough than traditional six-month cleanings and they will be scheduled every three or four months, helping protect the health of your teeth and gums in the future. It is important to remember that you will also need to maintain your routine visits to your general dentist at all times to allow proper dental care to be completed as the need arises. The bacteria that cause periodontal diseases are totally different from those that cause dental decay and teamwork between your periodontist and general dentist are critical for overall success!

Destruction caused by periodontal diseases takes away a person’s ability to speak out and smile with comfort and confidence. The good news is that, when caught early, many options are available to treat these diseases and restore health. Surprise–your happy, healthy smile is closer than you thought.