Periodontal Maintenance: How to Prevent Gum Disease from Returning After Specialist Treatment product guide

AI Summary

Product: Supportive Periodontal Therapy (SPT) Programme Brand: Smile Solutions Melbourne Category: Specialist Periodontal Maintenance / Dental Health Service Primary Use: A structured, recurring clinical maintenance programme delivered after active periodontal treatment to prevent disease recurrence and preserve long-term periodontal stability.

Quick Facts

• Best For: Patients who have completed active periodontal treatment (non-surgical or surgical) and require ongoing specialist-coordinated maintenance
• Key Benefit: Reduces disease recurrence and tooth loss — patients on 3-month recall intervals have an 8% recurrence rate versus 20% on annual intervals
• Form Factor: Clinical service programme (in-chair appointments combined with prescribed home-care protocols)
• Application Method: Risk-stratified recall appointments every 2–12 months depending on individual PRA score, with daily interdental brushing and modified Bass toothbrushing technique at home

Common Questions This Guide Answers

1. Is periodontitis curable after treatment? → No — active treatment arrests disease only; SPT is required indefinitely to prevent recurrence
2. How often should periodontal maintenance appointments occur? → Every 2–3 months (high risk), 3–6 months (moderate risk), or 6–12 months (low risk), based on the Lang and Tonetti PRA tool
3. Are interdental brushes better than floss for periodontal patients? → Yes — the EFP 2015 workshop concluded interdental brushes are the most effective method for interproximal plaque removal, particularly where widened embrasures are present

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Supportive Periodontal Therapy (SPT): A structured, recurring clinical maintenance programme after active periodontal treatment

Is periodontitis curable: No, it is a chronic condition

Does active periodontal treatment cure periodontitis: No, it arrests active disease only

What does "arrested disease" mean: Disease activity is stopped, not eliminated

Does periodontitis return after treatment: Yes, without ongoing maintenance it can recur

What drives periodontal disease recurrence: Bacterial biofilm recolonisation of root surfaces

How quickly does biofilm recolonise after treatment: Within days of subgingival debridement

When do pathogenic bacteria re-establish after treatment: Within weeks in residual pockets

Is SPT optional after periodontal treatment: No, it is clinically essential

What happens to teeth without SPT: Greater tooth loss and disease progression occur

Do SPT patients retain more teeth: Yes, compared to those without maintenance

What is the AAP definition of periodontal maintenance: Procedures at selected intervals to assist patients in maintaining oral health

Does SPT include medical history review: Yes, at every appointment

Does SPT include radiographic review: Yes, at appropriate intervals

Does SPT include full periodontal re-charting: Yes, pocket depths are measured at every visit

Does SPT include professional debridement: Yes, supragingival and subgingival debridement

Does SPT include plaque control review: Yes, plaque scores are recorded and reviewed

Is a periodontal maintenance visit the same as a standard scale and clean: No, it is a structured clinical assessment and intervention

What is the standard recall interval for moderate-to-advanced periodontitis: 2–4 months

What is the recall interval for low-risk patients: Every 6–12 months

What is the recall interval for moderate-risk patients: Every 3–6 months

What is the recall interval for high-risk patients: Every 2–3 months

Is recall interval the same for all patients: No, it is individualised based on risk profile

What tool is used to determine recall frequency at Smile Solutions: The Periodontal Risk Assessment (PRA) tool

Who developed the PRA tool: Lang and Tonetti, 2003

How many risk factors does the PRA tool assess: Six key factors

What are the six PRA risk factors: Smoking, diabetes, bleeding on probing, residual teeth, bone loss, and systemic conditions

What disease recurrence rate occurs at 3-month recall intervals: 8%

What disease recurrence rate occurs at 6-month recall intervals: 12%

What disease recurrence rate occurs at annual recall intervals: 20%

Is the recall interval fixed permanently: No, it is reassessed at every SPT appointment

What pocket depth indicates high recurrence risk: Residual pockets of 5 mm or greater

What BOP score indicates periodontal stability: Below 10% full-mouth bleeding on probing

What pocket depth change signals disease progression: An increase of 2 mm or more at a stable site

What is clinical attachment level (CAL): The definitive measure of disease progression over time

How often are radiographs taken during SPT: Typically every 12–24 months, or sooner if progression is suspected

Who delivers SPT at Smile Solutions: Experienced dental hygienists integrated with the specialist periodontal team

Do hygienists at Smile Solutions operate independently: No, they work in direct communication with supervising periodontists

What happens when a hygienist identifies disease progression: The finding is escalated directly to the treating periodontist

Can disease sites require retreatment during SPT: Yes, additional debridement or surgery may be indicated

What toothbrushing technique is recommended for periodontal patients: The modified Bass technique

What angle should bristles be placed at with the Bass technique: 45 degrees toward the gumline

Are electric toothbrushes better than manual for periodontal patients: Yes, modest advantages in plaque removal and inflammation reduction

What percentage of plaque can brushing alone remove: Up to 60%

Is interdental cleaning optional for periodontal maintenance patients: No, it is essential

Are interdental brushes or floss preferred for periodontal patients: Interdental brushes are preferred

What did the 2019 Cochrane review find about interdental brushes vs floss: Interdental brushes may be more effective than floss

What did the EFP 2015 workshop conclude about interdental brushes: They are the most effective method for interproximal plaque removal

Why are interdental brushes especially suited to periodontal patients: Widened embrasures are common in periodontitis patients

Does incorrect interdental brush size affect outcomes: Yes, too small misses surfaces; too large traumatises gingiva

Does Smile Solutions size interdental brushes individually: Yes, at every maintenance appointment

What fluoride concentration is recommended for periodontal patients: 1,000–1,500 ppm fluoride toothpaste

Why is fluoride toothpaste important for periodontal patients: To protect exposed root surfaces from caries

Is chlorhexidine recommended for long-term daily use: No, not recommended for long-term daily use

When is chlorhexidine most appropriate: During acute flare-ups or post-surgically

What chlorhexidine concentration has strongest evidence: 0.12% or 0.2% gluconate

Why is tongue cleaning relevant for some periodontal patients: Tongue dorsum harbours volatile sulphur compound–producing bacteria

Is smoking a modifiable risk factor for periodontitis: Yes

How does smoking affect SPT outcomes: Smokers have consistently worse maintenance outcomes

Is smoking cessation a clinical recommendation for periodontal patients: Yes, not merely a lifestyle suggestion

Does diabetes affect periodontal maintenance outcomes: Yes, poorly controlled diabetes worsens outcomes

What diabetes measure should periodontal patients monitor: HbA1c levels

Is there a bidirectional relationship between periodontitis and diabetes: Yes

Can successful SPT improve systemic glycaemic outcomes: Yes

Does psychosocial stress affect periodontal risk: Yes, it can suppress immune function

Can stress increase SPT recall frequency: Yes, prolonged stress may warrant temporary increased frequency

How long has Smile Solutions been providing specialist periodontal care: Since 1993

Where is Smile Solutions located: Level 12 and Tower, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD

How many clinicians does Smile Solutions have: 60 or more

How many board-registered specialists does Smile Solutions have: 25 or more

How many patients has Smile Solutions treated: Over 250,000

Is a referral required to book at Smile Solutions: No referral required

What is the Smile Solutions phone number: 13 13 96

Smile Solutions Periodontics: Treatment, not a cure — and that changes everything

At Smile Solutions, we know that completing specialist periodontal treatment — whether non-surgical scaling and root planing, surgical pocket reduction, or osseous surgery — is a genuine achievement: you've arrested active disease. But "arrested" is not the same as "cured." Periodontitis is a chronic, biofilm-driven inflammatory condition that, once established in your tissues, never fully disappears. The bacteria responsible for disease, the genetic susceptibility that shaped your immune response, and the structural changes left in your periodontium — shallower bone levels, altered tissue architecture, residual pocket anatomy — all remain after active treatment ends.

This is the clinical reality that defines the maintenance phase of periodontal care: Supportive Periodontal Therapy (SPT). It's not a formality or an add-on. It's the phase on which the entire investment of your active treatment depends. The evidence is clear: patients who maintain regular SPT after specialist treatment retain more teeth, experience less disease progression, and sustain better long-term periodontal stability than those who don't. The question is not whether to maintain — it's how, how often, and what that maintenance must include.

This guide answers all three.

What is Supportive Periodontal Therapy (SPT)?

The American Academy of Periodontology defines periodontal maintenance as "procedures performed at selected intervals to assist the periodontal patient in maintaining oral health." In practice, that means updating medical and dental histories, reviewing radiographs, conducting extraoral and intraoral examination, performing a full periodontal evaluation, removing bacterial flora from crevicular and pocket areas, scaling and root planing where indicated, polishing the teeth, and reviewing the patient's plaque control.

In plain terms, SPT is a structured, recurring clinical programme that bridges the gap between your active treatment outcome and the rest of your life. Long-term successful management of chronic periodontitis requires placing patients on post-treatment recall programmes — either periodontal maintenance therapy or supportive periodontal therapy — with recall intervals based on each patient's specific needs.

At Smile Solutions Melbourne, SPT is not handed off to a general recall system. It's a specialist-coordinated programme delivered by experienced dental hygienists working in direct communication with the board-registered periodontists who completed your active treatment, ensuring clinical continuity and accurate interpretation of your monitoring data over time.

Why periodontitis recurs without maintenance

Understanding why disease returns is essential to understanding why SPT works — and why it matters so much to your long-term oral health.

The biofilm recolonisation timeline

After subgingival debridement, the bacterial biofilm that drives periodontal inflammation begins recolonising root surfaces and the sulcular environment within days. Within weeks, pathogenic species — including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola — can re-establish in residual pockets. Without professional disruption of this reformed biofilm at regular intervals, the inflammatory cascade that causes attachment loss and bone destruction can reignite.

The residual pocket problem

Even after excellent active treatment, some patients retain residual pockets of 5 mm or greater — sites that are anatomically difficult to clean at home and that act as ongoing reservoirs for pathogenic bacteria. The number of residual pockets with a probing depth of ≥5 mm is a key risk indicator for recurrent disease, and it's one of the factors assessed at every SPT appointment.

The compliance gap

Despite broad consensus on the importance of supportive treatment, patient compliance with maintenance programmes is poor. Research from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences found a significant relationship between disease recurrence and years elapsed since initial treatment in patients who didn't return for maintenance follow-up — meaning the longer you delay re-engagement with SPT, the greater your risk of recurrence.

How often should you come in? Understanding recall intervals

The honest answer is: it depends on your individual risk profile.

The published literature shows wide variation in proposed SPT recall frequency after active periodontal therapy. What the data do consistently show is that routine supportive periodontal therapy preserves a periodontally healthy dentition and prevents tooth loss. For patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis, a recall interval of 2–4 months appears reasonable.

Research published in Periodontology 2000 by Trombelli et al. (2020, University of Ferrara) found that the proportion of residual diseased sites and validated risk assessment tools are useful in establishing appropriate recall frequency. The practical impact of recall frequency is illustrated by a comparative study published in PMC (2024): patients attending three-month intervals had the lowest incidence of disease recurrence (8%), while those on six-month and annual intervals experienced rates of 12% and 20% respectively.

Risk-based recall: the modern standard

Rather than applying a single fixed interval to all patients, the evidence-based standard is individualised, risk-stratified recall. The Periodontal Risk Assessment (PRA) tool, developed by Lang and Tonetti (2003), is the most widely used validated instrument for this purpose. It integrates six key factors — smoking, diabetes, bleeding on probing, residual teeth, bone loss, and systemic conditions — into a hexagonal diagram that helps clinicians determine your risk for disease progression and customise both the frequency and content of your SPT visits.

Recall interval summary by risk category

Your recall interval at Smile Solutions is never arbitrary. It's calculated from your clinical data — pocket depths, bleeding on probing scores, bone levels, systemic health status, and smoking history — and reassessed at every SPT appointment as your risk profile changes.

What happens at a periodontal maintenance appointment?

A periodontal maintenance visit is fundamentally different from a standard dental scale and clean. It's a structured clinical assessment followed by targeted professional intervention, and every component plays a meaningful role in protecting your long-term results.

The SPT appointment protocol

Medical and dental history update. New medications, systemic health changes (a new diabetes diagnosis, immunosuppressant therapy), or lifestyle changes (smoking cessation or commencement) are documented, because these directly affect your periodontal risk profile.

Full periodontal re-charting. Pocket depths are re-measured at multiple sites per tooth and compared against previous recordings to detect any progression. Bleeding on probing (BOP) is recorded — a clinically significant indicator of gingival inflammation, assessed by light probing to the bottom of the pocket with a standardised periodontal probe.

Radiographic monitoring. Bitewing and periapical radiographs are taken at appropriate intervals (typically every 12–24 months for maintenance patients, or sooner if clinical findings suggest progression) to assess alveolar bone levels and detect early interproximal bone loss before it becomes clinically visible.

Plaque and oral hygiene assessment. Plaque scores are recorded and compared to previous visits. Our hygienists use this data to identify specific sites where your home-care technique may need refinement and provide targeted, practical instruction — not to judge you.

Professional supragingival and subgingival debridement. Every SPT programme includes full-mouth supragingival and subgingival debridement — the mechanical disruption of reformed subgingival biofilm that you cannot achieve at home. Clinical attachment levels are monitored to confirm whether the maintenance programme is working.

Periodontal risk reassessment. Using the PRA or an equivalent validated tool, your clinician reassesses your current risk category and adjusts your next recall interval accordingly.

Escalation decision. If new or progressive sites are identified, your hygienist communicates directly with the treating periodontist. Sites that have re-deepened or show radiographic bone change may require retreatment — either additional non-surgical debridement or, in refractory cases, a return to surgical management. (See our guide on Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatment and Periodontal Surgery at Smile Solutions for detail on these pathways.)

Home care in the maintenance phase: what the evidence actually says

Professional maintenance is only half the equation. The bacterial biofilm that drives periodontitis reforms every day, in every mouth. What you do between SPT appointments is clinically inseparable from what happens at them, and your hygienist will work with you to make sure your home routine is genuinely effective.

Toothbrushing: technique over duration

The modified Bass technique — angling the bristles at 45° toward the gumline and using short horizontal vibrating strokes — is the most widely recommended method for periodontal patients because it directs cleaning energy into the sulcular environment. Electric toothbrushes with oscillating-rotating or sonic action have shown modest advantages over manual brushing in plaque removal and gingival inflammation reduction across multiple systematic reviews, and are particularly useful for patients with limited manual dexterity.

Brushing alone may only remove up to 60% of overall plaque. That's the core reason interdental cleaning is not optional for periodontal maintenance patients.

Interdental cleaning: the evidence has shifted

Interproximal surfaces of molars and premolars are the predominant sites of residual plaque and carry the highest risk of developing periodontal lesions and caries. The 2019 Cochrane systematic review (Worthington et al.), which analysed 35 randomised controlled trials involving 3,929 participants, found that using floss or interdental brushes in addition to toothbrushing may reduce gingivitis or plaque, or both — and that interdental brushes may be more effective than floss.

For periodontal maintenance patients specifically, the evidence strongly favours interdental brushes (IDBs) over string floss. The European Federation of Periodontology 2015 workshop concluded that "cleaning with interdental brushes is the most effective method for interproximal plaque removal" — particularly relevant for periodontitis patients, where widened embrasures are common. In a population with mild to moderate chronic periodontitis, bleeding on probing and probing depth were reduced over a month of follow-up when interdental brushes, but not floss, were used.

The correct IDB size for each interdental space matters. A brush that's too small fails to contact the tooth surfaces; one that's too large can traumatise the gingiva. Our hygienists at Smile Solutions individually size and prescribe IDBs for each patient at every maintenance appointment, accounting for changes in embrasure anatomy as treatment progresses.

What else supports home-based maintenance?

Fluoride toothpaste at 1,000–1,500 ppm is the standard recommendation for all periodontal patients, to protect exposed root surfaces from caries. Chlorhexidine gluconate (0.12% or 0.2%) has the strongest evidence base for reducing plaque and gingivitis but is not appropriate for long-term daily use due to staining and taste alteration — it's best reserved for short courses during acute flare-ups or post-surgically. For patients with persistent halitosis, tongue cleaning is worth adding to the routine, as the tongue dorsum is a significant reservoir for volatile sulphur compound–producing bacteria associated with periodontal disease.

Monitoring pocket depths and bone levels over time

One of the most important functions of the SPT programme is longitudinal tracking of your clinical parameters. A single pocket depth measurement tells us where the disease is now. A series of measurements over years tells us whether your disease is stable, improving, or progressing — and that distinction determines everything about your ongoing care.

What clinicians are looking for

A BOP score below 10% across the full mouth is considered a marker of periodontal stability; higher scores indicate residual or recurrent inflammation. An increase of ≥2 mm at a previously stable site is the standard threshold for defining disease progression. Radiographic bone levels are compared to baseline and previous radiographs to detect interproximal bone loss not visible clinically. Clinical attachment level (CAL) is the most definitive measure of disease progression over time, because it accounts for both pocket depth and gingival recession simultaneously. Changes in tooth mobility and furcation involvement can also indicate worsening disease at specific teeth.

Research has found that results achieved after surgical or non-surgical therapy were stable over five years as measured by CAL — but that stability was achieved in patients receiving structured SPT. Without it, the trajectory diverges significantly.

The role of Smile Solutions' hygienists in the maintenance phase

At Smile Solutions, the SPT programme is delivered by experienced dental hygienists who work as an integrated part of our specialist periodontal team — not as standalone practitioners operating independently of your treating periodontist. This distinction matters clinically, and it's central to the standard of care we provide.

When a hygienist identifies a site that has re-deepened from 4 mm to 6 mm, or a new area of bleeding that was absent at your previous visit, that information goes directly to the supervising periodontist. The periodontist reviews the data and determines whether the finding represents normal biological variation, a site requiring additional subgingival debridement, or a site that warrants surgical reassessment.

This closed-loop model — hygienist monitoring, periodontist oversight, direct escalation pathways — is what distinguishes specialist-coordinated maintenance from a standard dental recall programme. It's particularly important for patients with peri-implant tissues, where missed disease progression can be more rapid and more severe than around natural teeth. (See our guide on Peri-Implantitis Treatment for more on implant-specific monitoring protocols.)

Modifiable risk factors: what you can control between appointments

Maintenance intervals are planned according to each patient's specific risk factors, including smoking, systemic diseases such as diabetes, age, oral hygiene, and pocket depth greater than 6 mm. Several of these are directly within your control and have a measurable impact on your SPT outcomes.

Smoking

Smoking is one of the most significant modifiable risk factors for periodontal disease recurrence. Smokers respond less favourably to both surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapy, and their maintenance outcomes are consistently worse than non-smokers at equivalent recall intervals. Smoking cessation is a clinical recommendation — not merely a lifestyle suggestion — for periodontal maintenance patients. (See our guide on Gum Disease Causes and Risk Factors for the full evidence on smoking and periodontitis.)

Diabetes management

Poorly controlled long-duration diabetes is associated with more periodontitis and tooth loss than well-controlled or non-diabetic status. If you have diabetes, actively managing your HbA1c in collaboration with your GP matters — and your periodontist should know about any changes in glycaemic control between maintenance visits. The relationship between periodontitis and diabetes runs in both directions: successful SPT can also contribute to improved systemic glycaemic outcomes. (See our guide on Gum Disease and Systemic Health for the full evidence.)

Stress and immune function

Psychosocial stress is associated with elevated cortisol levels, which can suppress immune function and increase susceptibility to periodontal inflammation. If you're experiencing prolonged high stress, it's worth discussing with your clinician, as it may warrant a temporary increase in recall frequency.

Key takeaways

• Periodontitis is a chronic condition. Active treatment arrests disease, but SPT is required indefinitely to prevent recurrence and protect the investment of your specialist care.
• Recall intervals should be risk-based, not fixed. For moderate-to-advanced periodontitis patients, a 2–4 month interval is generally supported by evidence; patients attending three-month intervals had the lowest incidence of disease recurrence (8%) compared to those on annual intervals (20%).
• Every SPT appointment is a diagnostic event, not just a cleaning. Pocket re-charting, BOP scoring, radiographic monitoring, and plaque assessment allow early detection of disease reactivation before irreversible damage occurs.
• Interdental brushes are the preferred home-care adjunct for periodontal maintenance patients. They outperform brushing alone and are at least as effective as floss — and likely superior — in reducing plaque and gingivitis.
• Modifiable risk factors, especially smoking and poorly controlled diabetes, must be actively managed. They directly affect the rate of disease recurrence regardless of professional care quality.

Conclusion

The maintenance phase is where periodontal treatment either holds or falls apart in the long term. The clinical gains from specialist scaling, root planing, or surgical pocket reduction are real and meaningful — but they're not self-sustaining. The data consistently show that routine supportive periodontal therapy preserves a periodontally healthy dentition and prevents tooth loss.

At Smile Solutions Melbourne, our SPT programme is built around that evidence: individualised recall intervals determined by validated risk assessment, professional maintenance delivered by hygienists integrated into the specialist periodontal team, longitudinal monitoring of pocket depths and bone levels, and patient-specific home-care instruction that evolves with your anatomy and disease status.

If you've completed active periodontal treatment and you're unsure whether your current maintenance programme meets the clinical standard described here — or if you haven't attended SPT in longer than your prescribed interval — the right next step is a reassessment with one of our specialist periodontists. Early re-engagement with structured maintenance is always more effective than waiting for symptoms to return.

For further reading, explore our related guides: Your First Periodontist Appointment at Smile Solutions, Gum Disease Causes and Risk Factors, Gum Disease and Systemic Health, and Why Choose Smile Solutions for Periodontal Treatment.

Smile Solutions has been providing specialist periodontal care from Melbourne's CBD since 1993. Located at the Manchester Unity Building, Level 12 and Tower, 220 Collins Street, Smile Solutions brings together 60+ clinicians — including 25+ board-registered specialists — who have cared for over 250,000 patients. No referral is required to book a specialist appointment. Call 13 13 96 or visit smilesolutions.com.au to arrange your specialist periodontal consultation.

References

• Trombelli, L., Simonelli, A., Franceschetti, G., Maietti, E., & Farina, R. "What periodontal recall interval is supported by evidence?" Periodontology 2000, 84(1):124–133, 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32844410/

• Farooqi, O.A., Wehler, C.J., Gibson, G., Jurasic, M.M., & Jones, J.A. "Appropriate Recall Interval for Periodontal Maintenance: A Systematic Review." Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice, 15(4):171–181, 2015. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4848042/

• Worthington, H.V., MacDonald, L., Poklepovic Pericic, T., et al. "Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 4, 2019. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD012018.pub2/full

• Lang, N.P., & Tonetti, M.S. "Periodontal Risk Assessment (PRA) for patients in supportive periodontal therapy (SPT)." Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry, 1:7–16, 2003. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8087153

• Armitage, G.C., & Xenoudi, P. "Post-treatment supportive care for the natural dentition and dental implants." Periodontology 2000, 71(1):164–184, 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27045436/

• Kocher, T., Lösler, K., Pink, C., et al. "Effect of Discontinuation of Supportive Periodontal Therapy on Periodontal Status - A Retrospective Study." Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 52(1):113–124, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11671164/

• Ng, E., & Lim, L. "An Overview of Different Interdental Cleaning Aids and Their Effectiveness." Dentistry Journal, 7(2):56, 2019. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6630384/

• Atarbashi-Moghadam, F., Talebi, M., Mohammadi, F., & Sijanivandi, S. "Recurrence of periodontitis and associated factors in previously treated periodontitis patients without maintenance follow-up." Journal of Advanced Periodontology & Implant Dentistry, 12(2):79–83, 2020. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9327454/

• Trombelli, L., et al. (PMC). "Comparing the Efficacy of Different Maintenance Intervals on Preventing Disease Recurrence in Patients with A History of Periodontal Treatment." PMC, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11000956/

• American Academy of Periodontology. "Periodontal Maintenance (Position Paper)." Journal of Periodontology, 1998. Referenced in: Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice, 15(4):171–181, 2015.

Label Facts Summary

Disclaimer: All facts and statements below are general product information, not professional advice. Consult relevant experts for specific guidance.

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Product specification data status: No data provided

There is no product specification data, packaging data, or Product Facts table present in the content provided. There are no verifiable label facts to extract.

General Product Claims

The content does not relate to a packaged product. The following are verifiable clinical and organisational facts drawn from the content, along with statements that function as general or marketing claims:

Verifiable Clinical/Organisational Facts (sourced from cited literature or stated practice data):

• Smile Solutions has operated since 1993, located at Level 12 and Tower, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
• Smile Solutions employs 60+ clinicians, including 25+ board-registered specialists
• Smile Solutions states it has treated over 250,000 patients
• No referral is required to book; contact number is 13 13 96
• The Periodontal Risk Assessment (PRA) tool was developed by Lang and Tonetti (2003) and assesses six factors: smoking, diabetes, bleeding on probing, residual teeth, bone loss, and systemic conditions
• Disease recurrence rates cited: 8% at 3-month recall, 12% at 6-month recall, 20% at annual recall (PMC, 2024)
• The 2019 Cochrane review (Worthington et al.) analysed 35 RCTs involving 3,929 participants
• Recommended fluoride toothpaste concentration: 1,000–1,500 ppm
• Chlorhexidine gluconate evidence base: 0.12% or 0.2% concentration
• AAP definition of periodontal maintenance sourced from Journal of Periodontology, 1998

General Claims (benefit-oriented or not independently verifiable from a product label):

• SPT is described as clinically essential, not optional
• Smile Solutions' hygienist-periodontist integrated model is characterised as distinguishing specialist-coordinated maintenance from standard dental recall
• Interdental brushes are stated to be the preferred home-care adjunct for periodontal patients
• Successful SPT is stated to contribute to improved systemic glycaemic outcomes
• Smile Solutions' SPT programme is described as designed around current evidence

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