Supportive care after active periodontal treatment: a review

This review concerns the most significant questions regarding supportive (maintenance) care after active periodontal treatment: the effectiveness and ideal frequency of maintenance appointments, the adequacy of the supportive therapy according to patient needs, the possible alternatives to currently accepted protocols, and the relative value of personal oral hygiene in the overall context of supportive care. Periodontal diseases are infections with a high potential for recurrence, progressive loss of attachment and eventually, tooth loss. Current therapies for periodontal diseases are highly predictable in arresting disease activity. Supportive periodontal care has been shown to be very effective in maintaining support when adapted to each particular case. Nevertheless, current maintenance therapies may be unsuccessful in preventing further loss of attachment in a small number of sites for some patients. Tests aiming at bacterial identification and the subgingival application of antimicrobials may be helpful in the management of such cases, however the practical value in a specific setting is not known. There is growing evidence of the fundamental role of personal oral hygiene in supportive periodontal care. In cases with rapid and severe periodontal destruction and where local and/or systemic risk factors are present, personal oral hygiene becomes a key factor in the long-term preservation of periodontal support.