Supportive periodontal treatment: maintenance

An increasing emphasis is being placed on the phase following active therapy for inflammatory periodontal diseases. This phase of therapy, once termed maintenance, is now called supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) (American Academy of Periodontology, Current Procedural Terminology for Periodontics. 5th American Academy of Periodontology, 1986). Supportive periodontal therapy has been shown to have an important role in controlling periodontal problems. However, most patients do not comply with suggested SPT intervals.