Maintenance Protocols Flashcards

Which of the following instruments is MOST effective for debridement in a Class II furcation during periodontal maintenance?

Answer: Mini or micro curette designed for furcations

Mini or micro curettes designed for furcation anatomy allow more effective access and debridement within the concavities of Class II furcation involvements.

Longitudinal data from the Ramfjord Michigan studies on periodontal maintenance demonstrated that which factor was the strongest predictor of tooth loss?

Answer: Level of compliance with maintenance recall

The Ramfjord Michigan studies identified compliance with maintenance recall as the strongest predictor of tooth retention over the long term.

Which of the following best describes 'secondary prevention' in the context of periodontal maintenance?

Answer: Preventing recurrence of periodontitis in treated patients

Secondary prevention refers to preventing the recurrence of periodontitis in individuals who have already been diagnosed and treated for the disease.

A patient with a history of aggressive periodontitis (now classified as Stage III/IV Grade C) who is stable on maintenance should ideally be recalled at:

Answer: Every 3 months or less

Grade C periodontitis (rapid progression risk) warrants a 3-month or shorter recall interval to detect early signs of recurrence promptly.

Which of the following best explains why probing depths alone are insufficient to assess periodontal stability during maintenance?

Answer: Pockets can remain deep after therapy without active disease if attachment is stable

Residual deep pockets may persist after active therapy yet remain stable if clinical attachment level is unchanged; attachment level trends are more meaningful than pocket depth alone.

When evaluating a maintenance patient, the finding of suppuration (pus) from a periodontal pocket MOST likely indicates:

Answer: Active infection within the pocket

Suppuration from a periodontal pocket is a sign of active bacterial infection and acute inflammation within the pocket, indicating disease activity.

In a patient receiving periodontal maintenance, which of the following best justifies extending the recall interval from 3 months to 4–6 months?

Answer: Consistent clinical stability with no BOP, stable CAL, and excellent oral hygiene over multiple visits

Extending the maintenance interval is only justified when the patient demonstrates consistent clinical stability—no bleeding on probing, stable clinical attachment, and good oral hygiene across multiple consecutive visits.