Think of your gums the way you’d think of the foundation of a house. You can repaint the walls and replace the roof, but if the foundation shifts, everything built on top of it is at risk. Periodontal maintenance works the same way for your smile. Once gum disease has been treated, the foundation needs ongoing care to stay steady, and skipping that care lets old problems creep back in before you notice anything is wrong.
At Smile Craft Dental, we built our periodontal maintenance program around that idea. Redwood City patients who have completed periodontal therapy come to us for the follow-up cleanings and monitoring that keep their gums healthy for years, not just months. Dr. Janice Chou and our team treat this ongoing care as seriously as the initial treatment, since gum disease that isn’t actively managed tends to return.
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Periodontal maintenance is not the same as a standard dental cleaning, and the difference matters more than most patients realize. A routine cleaning focuses on the visible parts of your teeth and the areas just below the gumline. Periodontal maintenance goes further, targeting the deeper pockets that form when gum disease has damaged the tissue and bone supporting your teeth.
During your visit, we measure the depth of these pockets, check for bleeding or inflammation, and remove plaque and tartar buildup below the gumline using specialized instruments. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4 in 10 U.S. adults 30 years or older have some level of periodontitis, which shows just how common this need for deeper, ongoing care really is.
Most periodontal maintenance visits happen every three to four months, which is more frequent than the typical six-month cleaning schedule. This isn’t an arbitrary number. Research shows that bacteria below the gumline can rebuild to harmful levels within about ten to twelve weeks after a cleaning, which is why waiting longer between visits gives that bacteria enough time to cause new damage.
We compare it to changing the oil in your car. You could stretch the interval a little longer without immediate consequences, but the wear and tear builds up quietly until something breaks down. Gum disease behaves in a similar way, since it rarely announces itself with pain in the early stages, so by the time you notice a problem, the damage has often already progressed.
Some patients feel confident once their initial gum treatment is finished, and want to return to a standard cleaning routine. We gently discourage that, since periodontitis is a chronic condition that can be managed but not cured. Skipping maintenance visits or spacing them too far apart is one of the most common reasons gum disease returns.
Our team takes a patient-centered approach to periodontal maintenance, which means we listen closely to your concerns and walk you through exactly what we’re seeing at each visit. We know that dental appointments can feel intimidating, so we work to keep the process comfortable and easy to understand.
We also stay current with advancements in periodontal care, since the tools and techniques used to manage gum disease have improved significantly over the years. For patients who need more advanced treatment alongside maintenance, we also offer LANAP laser therapy, a minimally invasive option for managing advanced gum disease.
Some patients benefit from additional procedures alongside their maintenance schedule. If gum tissue has receded unevenly, or if a tooth needs more visible structure exposed for a restoration, we may recommend crown lengthening to address that specific concern. We treat every patient’s periodontal needs individually rather than applying a one-size-fits-all schedule, since gum disease progresses differently depending on genetics, health history, and daily habits.
While your maintenance visits are designed to catch problems early, it helps to know what to watch for at home between appointments. A few signs are worth mentioning to us right away:
We would rather hear from you sooner than later if something feels off, because catching a change early often means the difference between a small adjustment to your care plan and a more involved intervention. Patients who haven’t been diagnosed with gum disease still benefit from routine dental cleanings, which catch early buildup that periodontal maintenance is designed to manage before it progresses further.
The cost of periodontal maintenance depends on your gum health and ongoing treatment needs. We accept most major dental insurance plans and offer flexible payment options to help make care affordable. Call (650) 844-3047 to schedule a consultation and receive a personalized cost estimate.
Keeping gum disease under control is an ongoing effort, and we’re here to make that effort as manageable as possible. Dr. Chou brings her training from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, along with her advanced education in general dentistry, to every periodontal maintenance visit, so you can trust that your care is backed by real clinical experience and a genuine investment in keeping your smile healthy for the long run.
Our Redwood City office combines a comfortable environment with a team that takes the time to listen to your concerns and explain what we’re seeing at each stage of your care. If it’s time for your next periodontal maintenance visit, reach out through our contact form, and we’ll help you get back on schedule.
Dr. Amy Nguyen and our Redwood City team combine a thorough clinical exam with a gentle, patient-centered cleaning at every checkup.
Lead Dentist · Smile Craft Dental Redwood City
Dr. Amy leads Smile Craft Dental with a commitment to technology, continuing education, and patient-centered care. Every checkup includes a thorough exam and an oral cancer screening as a standard part of the visit, not an afterthought. Her approach is straightforward: explain everything clearly, listen carefully, and make sure you leave with answers, not just instructions.
4.9 stars across 556 Google reviews. Here's what patients describe about their experience at Smile Craft.
Smile Craft Dental is a family dental practice serving patients of all ages in Redwood City. Our team welcomes new patients from San Carlos, Belmont, and the surrounding Peninsula seeking routine checkups, cleanings, and preventive care. If you're ready to schedule your next checkup, we make it easy to get started. Contact us to request an appointment and take the next step toward a healthy smile.
2531 El Camino Real · Redwood City, CA 94061
Serving San Carlos, Belmont, and the Peninsula