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Periodontal Maintenance

Periodontal disease is another name for gum disease. It refers to infection in the bone and tissue that hold the teeth in your mouth. Over time, advanced periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, gum recession, and even damage to the jaw bone. Gum disease is caused by dental plaque at or below the gum line. Individuals who maintain good daily oral hygiene practices like flossing and brushing can avoid most periodontal complications.

Periodontal maintenance refers to treatments and strategies to help preserve the health of the bone and gum tissue around the teeth of an individual who has had a previous history of gum disease.

Mark S. Frey, DDS - Santa Rosa cosmetic dentist

Periodontal Maintenance Is Essential for Healthy Teeth and Gums

periodontal maintenance

After the age of 35, adults are more likely to lose to gum disease, rather than from cavities. Up to 80% of adults are affected by some kind of gum disease, and three out of four will lose teeth because of this. Daily brushing and flossing can help prevent gum disease.

All cases of gum disease start with plaque. This film sticks to your teeth and gum line, and is constantly being produced. Eating and drinking both contribute to plaque, and there is no known way to halt production. Daily brushing removes the new plaque that has built up, helping to avoid more serious accumulation.

Periodontal diseases occur mostly because of the bacteria in dental plaque. When plaque is not removed properly, it eventually forms tartar (otherwise known as calculus). Tartar is the mineralized version of plaque. It is extremely hard and is difficult to remove with home teeth cleaning methods. In fact, it can usually only be removed by the dentist or dental hygienist.

Plaque isn’t the only cause of periodontal diseases, and any of the following can also contribute to their development:

  • Diabetes.
  • Stress.
  • Cigarette smoking and drug use.
  • Damaging the teeth through clenching or grinding.
  • Some medications.
  • Poor nutrition and food choices.

Early stages of periodontal disease are easy to identify. Bacteria within plaque, or toxins from other sources will irritate gums, causing swelling and redness, eventually leading to bleeding. Prolonged irritation causes pockets to form between teeth and gums, allowing bacteria to spread deeper, and damage gum tissue. Left untreated, tooth loss often occurs. In severe cases patients may also experience abscesses, bone infections, and even blood poisoning.

Don’t Let Gum Disease Get the Best of You

Daily brushing is your primary defense against gum disease. Flossing, and mouthwash will also help to remove more plaque and leftover food particles. However, brushing at home is never enough.

For your best chance to prevent gum disease, or to prevent worsening conditions when it has already occurred, regular periodontal maintenance with your dentist is recommended.

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Jeff L.
Jeff L.
1674757839
Excellent dentist, very professional and friendly team! Thank you!
Nicholas L.
Nicholas L.
1673576417
Great experience and friendly staff highly recommend for dental care.
Bonnie B.
Bonnie B.
1668642846
I've been going to Dr. Frey for over 18 years. My dental care has been excellent.
Jann A.
Jann A.
1650562411
Dr. Frey has been my dentist for years. He replaced eight of my front upper teeth with beautiful crowns! He is a committed professional that will honestly advise you on procedures you need, or more unusual, the procedures you don't or can delay. His staff is knowledgeable and friendly!
Dahye J.
Dahye J.
1632331162
Fran S.
Fran S.
1632183008
Warm reception from entry door through the whole office. Polite, pofessionals. Have been taken care of my dental care for a lot of years. Highly recommend them.
Clay S.
Clay S.
1631762152
Pleasant, courteous, efficient Dentist and other staff.
Larry U.
Larry U.
1629237599
makes going to dentist fun
Laura O.
Laura O.
1628821890
PAUL B.
PAUL B.
1620264013
My first dentures officially started today with castings. I anticipated it being uncomfortable and it was but this process was painless. Next stop the model.
Bette Rice V.
Bette Rice V.
1604355267
I’ve been a patient of Dr. Mark Frey for many, many years and have had lots of basic dentistry as well as restorative and cosmetic dental work completed. He has walked me through each procedure, included me in the planning and provided painless treatment to give me teeth that make me proud to smile! Years ago when I was looking for a dentist (mine had retired) a good friend , who was a very committed periodontal hygienist, recommended him. I have never been disappointed. He stays current regarding the most current and effective dental treatment plans. His entire staff is amazing.....Angel, office manager; Bonnie, his right hand assistant; Aimee, his fabulous hygienist. I have total faith in this dental practice and would feel confident recommending them to anyone!
Lynn C.
Lynn C.
1601938730
I felt very safe going back to see Dr. Frey at long last. And I really needed the visit as I knew I needed more than a cleaning appointment! They are wearing so much PPE that I am surprised that they can work efficiently, and there was air flowing through the room as well, and lots of hand sanitizer everywhere. And of course, they are very nice and friendly people and Dr. Frey is a great dentist!
Nancy N.
Nancy N.
1600987204
I feel so comfortable because they are so caring and professional.
Cameron T.
Cameron T.
1597078018
Amazing, love the place and the people.
Vince G.
Vince G.
1594329584
Dr Frey does fantastic work and never tries to sell you services you don't need. 100% on the level. The hygienists are fantastic as well. I have some super sensitive spots on my teeth and a low threshold for pain and, despite that, Corrine always gets me through the cleaning with no stress. Angel at the front desk demonstrates great attention to detail in keeping your procedures on track and your billing straight. Even though I visited today, during the time of coronavirus, I felt safe due to their safety procedures.
Chelsey D.
Chelsey D.
1593297583
Lindsey H.
Lindsey H.
1545094146
I love this office. Dr. Frey is by far the best dentist I have ever seen. He is so gental, competent, and he makes you feel at ease. The office staff are all very friendly and wonderful, too! I have received great care from them. My temporary crown fell off and they squeezed me in and fixed it the very next day! I drive for three hours just to come to this office. I highly recommend them if you are looking for a great dentist.
K O.
K O.
1543103926
I wrote below review 4 years ago. Last night my front tooth/crown fell out... 20 minutes after leaving a message on Dr Frey's emergency message line, he called me back and made an appt to fix my tooth at 10am today - Saturday - even tho office was closed & staff were enjoying their Thanksgiving weekend. Amazingly speedy service! Thank you once again for being an awesome, caring dentist!_________Awesome dentist & team. It's a comfort to have the assurance of quality, professional, state of the art dental care. I am always given careful, patient service and I can count on attention to detail. On top of this, it's a pleasure to see everyone here for routine visits. Thank you!
Jill M.
Jill M.
1542405946
My daughter and I just had our first visits and we could not be happier. Everything was explained, the entire office was kind and there was no “upselling”. We were referred by a friend and I’ll be referring people too. Thank you!
Megan F.
Megan F.
1541698249
5 stars! Great Dentist! My son used to have anxiety but today he was calm and relaxed! We are very happy!
Evan G.
Evan G.
1541538510
Probably THE most together dental office I have ever visited. Quick, thorough, professional, friendly, really put me at ease. Their work is TOP notch. Two Thumbs up +.
Susie M.
Susie M.
1535137799
I am serial tooth-grinder, and did a lot of damage. Dr. Frey and his amazing team reconstructed my smile. They have my highest recommendation.
HEIDI B
HEIDI B
1526360006
This is a very relaxing atmosphere with excellent dental care. The staff is caring, knowledgeable and fun.
Jenna K.
Jenna K.
1522210213
Dr Frey and his staff were compassionate and understanding about my dental history, very informative and explained my treatment plan perfectly. I’m excited to be a patient.
Penelope H.
Penelope H.
1520558163
Radrodro V.
Radrodro V.
1509671346
Very friendly staff and thank you Dr Frey for taking time to talk and explain things to me.
Kerri G.
Kerri G.
1498018479
Always friendly and caring staff.
rhona K.
rhona K.
1489643633
Its a place you always look forward for your next visit. Its that GOOD.
Eric B.
Eric B.
1489019803
As good as it can be!
Hunter P.
Hunter P.
1484849994
Donna R.
Donna R.
1478740126
Dr. Frey, Bonnie and Angel were all wonderful! He is gentle and very competent. Definitely knows what he's doing!
Josephine B.
Josephine B.
1478645189
Competent, caring, cheerful.
Norm C.
Norm C.
1469662456
As usual, the doc is the best and so is the staff.However, maybe it's just me but I found it difficult to get to the "Review" portion.
Melba M.
Melba M.
1465334435
I am hoping you make 5 star tooth repair as i do not know where to get any quality dental work here in sonoma calif.If you can e-mail me before 5 pm today it is tuesday my home number is 869-8095 my name is Melba an emergency
Elizabeth du P.
Elizabeth du P.
1434499295
My 3- and 4-year-old boys just had their first visit and seemed to enjoy it!! (The prizes at the end were a big deal!) Thank you!!
Mary B.
Mary B.
1413248114
I've had some terrible experiences at dental offices but I have yet to endure a bad one at Dr. Frey's. He recently fit me into a busy day when I had an emergency and as usual, showed me much compassion and gave me suggestions if the fix didn't work. So far so good. I'm always happy with the professional and pleasant staff, especially Angel and Aimee. I've recommended several people to Dr. Frey and will continue to do so as long as he has a practice.
Vaughn S.
Vaughn S.
1377257884
Dr. Frey, Angel, Betty and the Whole Staff are great!!
Sophie F.
Sophie F.
1374127759
Hillary R.
Hillary R.
1373601656
Anet D.
Anet D.
1351874139
Thank you, Dr. Frey, for seeing me right away when I broke a crown that was 20 years old and had been put in by a dentist in another city. I really appreciate that you worked through your lunch time to fix it. I value your skill and the way you take care of your patients. Thank you so much.
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