Periodontal Maintenance &
Implant Recall Protocol

Periodontal maintenance is a personalised recall program for patients who have completed active gum disease treatment. It goes beyond a standard dental check-up to include detailed pocket charting, subgingival debridement, and risk reassessment at each visit.

Most patients benefit from recall visits every 3 to 6 months. Your clinician will determine the ideal interval based on pocket depth, bleeding indices, implant presence, systemic health, and home care consistency.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition driven by bacterial biofilm. Even after successful treatment, pathogenic bacteria can recolonise within weeks. Frequent professional care disrupts this cycle and allows early intervention before bone loss resumes.

Yes. Implants require lifelong professional monitoring. Unlike natural teeth, implants lack a periodontal ligament, which means early signs of trouble can be harder to detect without clinical and radiographic assessment.

Warning signs include bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, swollen or tender gum tissue, persistent bad breath, increasing pocket depth at recall visits, and any tooth mobility. Report these symptoms promptly to your dental team.

Regular professional care significantly reduces the incidence of peri-implantitis, the leading biological cause of implant failure. Studies show that patients in a consistent recall program retain implants at substantially higher rates over 10 years.

Yes. Recall intervals are not fixed. They are adjusted at each visit based on clinical stability, improvements in home care, changes in systemic health, or the emergence of new risk factors such as medication changes.

Gingivitis is reversible inflammation limited to the gum tissue, typically presenting as bleeding gums during brushing. Periodontitis involves irreversible bone loss around the teeth. A thorough dental check-up with probing and radiographs is needed to distinguish between the two.

Fees vary based on the complexity of your case, the number of sites requiring subgingival treatment, radiographic needs, and the time involved. A clinical assessment is required to provide an accurate estimate tailored to your situation.

No. A routine teeth cleaning focuses on removing surface plaque and calculus in patients with healthy gums. Supportive periodontal therapy includes targeted subgingival instrumentation, comprehensive pocket monitoring, and clinical assessment designed specifically for patients with a history of periodontitis.

SPT is the clinical term for the ongoing care phase that follows active gum disease treatment. It is coded separately from routine dental cleaning in Australia (ADA item numbers 221/222) and reflects the additional clinical time, instrumentation, and monitoring involved.

Research consistently shows that patients who do not attend regular supportive care experience faster bone loss, deeper pockets, and higher rates of tooth and implant loss compared to those who maintain their recall schedule.

Implant recall includes specific instrumentation designed not to scratch titanium surfaces, radiographic monitoring of bone integration, screw-access checks, and assessment for peri-implant mucositis or peri-implantitis. These steps are not part of a routine dental cleaning.

Most patients tolerate supportive care comfortably. Local anaesthetic can be used when deeper pockets require subgingival instrumentation. Sensitivity tends to decrease over time as gum health improves with consistent attendance.

Appointments typically range from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the number of teeth and implants, the depth of pockets, and whether radiographs are required at that visit.

For patients with a history of periodontitis or dental implants, ongoing professional care is generally recommended for life. The frequency may decrease as stability improves, but the need for monitoring does not go away.

Many general dentists provide supportive periodontal therapy. In complex cases or when disease is not responding, your dentist may refer you to a specialist periodontist for co-management. At ArtSmiles, our team assesses each case individually and refers when appropriate.