Periodontal Maintenance in Westlake Village
If you've already been treated for gum disease, the work doesn't end when your gums start to feel better. Bacteria can settle back into the deeper pockets around your teeth, often without pain or obvious warning signs. Periodontal maintenance is the ongoing care that helps keep those areas clean and monitored after treatment. At 805 Dentistry, we provide this care for patients throughout Westlake Village from our Thousand Oaks office, with a board-certified periodontist on our team.
Periodontal maintenance is a specialized cleaning designed for patients with a history of gum disease. A routine cleaning focuses mainly on the visible surfaces of the teeth and the area just at the gumline. Periodontal maintenance goes further, cleaning below the gumline where plaque and hardened deposits can collect in pockets that formed during active disease. It usually follows active treatment such as scaling and root planing or periodontal surgery, both of which we offer.
Many of our Westlake Village patients first come to us for gum disease treatment and then move into a maintenance schedule. Others have been treated elsewhere and want a practice that can continue their care. Because our periodontist accepts patients without a referral, you can schedule directly with us. We can also coordinate with our general dentistry team, so your gum care and routine dental needs are handled in one place.
The main goal of periodontal maintenance is to keep gum disease from becoming active again. Your gums can look and feel healthy while bacteria rebuild beneath the surface. Regular maintenance visits let us find those changes early, when they are usually easier to manage.
Patients often value these visits for several reasons:
- Deeper cleaning of pockets that daily brushing and flossing can't fully reach
- Ongoing monitoring of gum pocket depths and changes over time
- Early detection of areas that may need additional treatment
- Protection for dental implants, since we also provide implant maintenance
- Continuity of care with a team that knows your history
These visits also give us a chance to review your home care. If a particular area keeps collecting plaque, we can show you a technique or tool that may help. For many patients, these small adjustments make daily care feel more manageable.
Am I a candidate for periodontal maintenance?
You are likely a candidate if you have been diagnosed with and treated for gum disease. This includes patients who completed scaling and root planing, patients who had periodontal surgery or gum grafting, and patients with dental implants who need careful monitoring of the surrounding tissue.
Every mouth is different, so we don't use a one-size-fits-all schedule. After evaluating your gums, we recommend a visit interval based on your pocket depths, your health history, and how your gums respond over time. Maintenance visits are often scheduled more frequently than standard cleanings. We may adjust your schedule as your needs change. If you're unsure whether you need maintenance or a regular cleaning, an exam is the best place to start.
What happens during a periodontal maintenance visit?
A typical visit combines a careful examination with a thorough cleaning above and below the gumline. We start by measuring the pockets around your teeth and comparing the results with your previous visits. This tells us whether your gums are stable or whether any area needs closer attention.
Next, we remove plaque and hardened deposits from the tooth surfaces and from inside the pockets. If you have implants, we clean around them with appropriate care. We'll also check your overall oral health, and we can use our imaging capabilities when a closer look is needed. If you feel anxious about dental visits, let us know. We offer sedation options, including nitrous oxide, to help you feel more at ease.
How should I care for my gums between visits, and how can I pay for treatment?
Consistent daily care at home is the most important thing you can do between appointments. That means brushing thoroughly, cleaning between your teeth every day, and following any specific recommendations we give you. If you notice bleeding, swelling, tenderness, or teeth that feel loose, contact us rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit.
Keeping your maintenance appointments matters too. Gum disease is a chronic condition, so regular visits help protect the results of your earlier treatment. Many Westlake Village families choose to schedule their gum care alongside other visits with us, since we see children and adults of all ages.
We want cost to be clear and manageable. We accept all major PPO insurance plans, and our periodontics services are filed as specialist care. We also welcome self-pay patients and offer financing to help spread out costs. Our team can review your coverage and options with you before treatment so you know what to expect.
If you live or work in Westlake Village and need ongoing gum care, we'd be glad to help you keep your smile healthy for the long term.