A client has just completed therapy for the control of chronic periodontitis. The client is compliant with recommendations and has responded well to therapy. What is the recommended continued-care (periodontal maintenance, re-care) interval?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During the first year after periodontal therapy, it is prudent to set the continued-care intervals to no more than 3 months to assess the client's ongoing response and potential for disease reoccurrence and progression. After 1 year of 3-month intervals, the length of the interval can be reassessed. This interval for continuing PM will also depend on the severity of disease at initial therapy and continuing oral self-care practices. Two months is an appropriate interval for those who have not responded well to therapy or for those with aggressive disease. A complicated case, furcation involvement, poor crown to root ratios, and questionable patient cooperation are factors to consider. Four months is not indicated for the first year in relation to the reestablishment of the periodontal pathogens. It might, however, be an interval that is satisfactory for clients after the 1 year, 3-month interval recommendation, again depending on the severity of disease, risk factors that are controlled, and lack of disease progression. This interval is not recommended for aggressive disease states, refractory cases, and those with systemic conditions that affect the periodontitis. This interval is thought to be too long to recommend for periodontal maintenance therapy based on past evidence. More research is indicated to analyze appropriate PM intervals. Six months might be indicated in some cases when periodontal health has been established and maintained over a long period of time indicating an oral prophylaxis; however, this practice is based on the practitioner's philosophy. Nine months is longer than recommended in any case for some of the previous reasons.

A Client Has Just Completed Therapy for the Control of Chronic