title: Periodontal maintenance therapy.
abstract: The rationale for therapy is to establish an environment conducive to maintenance by the patient and the dental team. Hence, maintenance therapy becomes the "steady state" for the patient, with all treatment endeavors channeled into achieving a healthy periodontal status that can be effectively maintained. In this light, maintenance therapy becomes the most critical aspect of dental treatment. Recognition of of its place in the therapeutic spectrum is long overdue, and adequate time should be included for this phase of treatment in the dental school curriculum.
mesh_terms: D003777:Dental Prophylaxis; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000175:diagnosis