The frequency of professional dental cleaning should be decided based on your individual periodontal risk, not on a universal default of six months or once a year that is applied to every patient regardless of their gum health status. For patients with healthy gums, a low rate of plaque and calculus accumulation, and consistently effective home oral hygiene, a cleaning interval of six to twelve months is typically sufficient to maintain periodontal health. For patients who have been treated for periodontitis, the research evidence consistently shows that three to four monthly professional cleaning and review significantly reduces the risk of disease recurrence compared with annual or biannual intervals. Patients who accumulate calculus rapidly, who have deep residual pockets, who are diabetic or on medications that affect gum health, or who have a history of advanced periodontitis are at higher periodontal risk and benefit from more frequent professional care. At Dentacure, Kasturi Nagar, Bengaluru, I assess your current periodontal status at each visit and recommend the cleaning interval that is clinically appropriate for your specific risk profile, which may change over time as your gum health improves or as your circumstances change.
Written by Dr. Prerana G.K., BDS, MDS (Periodontology, Distinction), Consultant Periodontist and Implantologist, Dentacure Multispeciality Dental Clinic, Kasturi Nagar, Bengaluru 560043. Phone: +91 7259967999.
