Periodontal Maintenance in Woodland Hills
If you've already been treated for gum disease, perhaps with scaling and root planing or periodontal surgery, you may be wondering what comes next. Keeping your gums healthy after that treatment takes a different kind of care than a standard cleaning. Patients who travel to us from Woodland Hills often ask how to protect the progress they've worked hard for. Our answer is a structured program of periodontal maintenance, built around your gums, your history, and your schedule.
Periodontal maintenance is an ongoing series of specialized cleanings for patients with a history of gum disease. A routine cleaning focuses mostly on the surfaces of the teeth near the gumline. Periodontal maintenance goes further. It addresses the deeper spaces between the gums and teeth, called periodontal pockets, where bacteria can collect and cause inflammation to return.
At 805 Dentistry, this care is part of our periodontics services, and we have a board-certified periodontist on staff. That matters because gum disease is usually managed over time rather than cured in a single visit. Regular maintenance appointments help us spot changes early, often before you notice anything at home. For Woodland Hills patients, it also means your gum care, exams, and any restorative work can be coordinated by one team.
The patients who benefit most are those who have already been treated for gum disease. That includes people who have had scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery, gum grafting, or periodontal regeneration. Once active treatment is complete, maintenance becomes the long-term plan for keeping inflammation under control.
We also provide implant maintenance, so patients with dental implants are often good candidates for this level of care. That's especially true for anyone who has lost teeth to gum disease in the past. You don't need a referral to see our periodontics team. If you live in Woodland Hills and aren't sure whether you need maintenance or a standard cleaning, we can evaluate your gums and recommend the right approach.
What happens at my first periodontal maintenance visit?
Your first visit starts with a careful look at where your gum health stands today. We review your history, including any previous gum treatment, and examine your teeth and gums. We measure pocket depths to compare against earlier readings, and we may take dental imaging when it helps us see what's happening below the gumline.
From there, the cleaning itself typically involves:
- Removing plaque and hardened buildup above and below the gumline
- Cleaning inside periodontal pockets where bacteria tend to collect
- Smoothing tooth surfaces as needed to discourage new buildup
- Checking the gums around implants, crowns, and bridges
- Reviewing your home care routine and suggesting adjustments
If dental visits make you anxious, let us know ahead of time. We offer nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation, and a board-certified dental anesthesiologist is on staff. Many patients find that knowing these options exist makes the visit far more manageable.
How often will I need periodontal maintenance?
Periodontal maintenance is usually scheduled more often than routine cleanings, and we set the interval based on your individual needs. How deep your pockets are, how your gums responded to earlier treatment, and how well buildup is controlled between visits all shape the schedule we recommend.
We reassess at each appointment. If your gums stay stable, we discuss whether your schedule still fits. If we see signs of renewed inflammation, we may recommend additional treatment through our periodontal or gum disease services. Because we also offer general and family dentistry, many Woodland Hills households coordinate appointments so several family members can be seen by the same team.
How should I care for my gums between visits?
Consistent daily care at home is what carries the benefits of each appointment forward. During your visit, we'll show you the brushing and cleaning techniques that work best for your mouth. That might mean extra attention around implants, bridges, or areas where pockets have been deeper in the past.
Watch for changes between appointments, such as bleeding when you brush, tenderness, or gums that look swollen. If you notice something concerning, contact our office rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit. We also offer emergency dental appointments when urgent problems come up.
Does insurance cover periodontal maintenance, and is financing available?
Many patients use insurance for periodontal maintenance, and we accept all major PPO insurance plans. Our periodontics services are filed with insurance as specialist care. Our team can help you understand how your plan applies before treatment begins.
If you don't have insurance, we welcome self-pay patients, and financing is available to help spread out the cost of care. For Woodland Hills patients who want to stay ahead of gum disease, we'll walk through your options clearly so you can focus on your health. Reach out to our office to schedule a periodontal evaluation and start your maintenance plan with our team.