ABP Maintenance Protocols 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the AAP, what is the recommended recall interval for most periodontal maintenance patients following active therapy?
- Every 3 months (Correct answer)
- Every 6 months
- Every 12 months
- Every 2 months
Correct answer: Every 3 months
The AAP recommends a 3-month recall interval for most periodontal maintenance patients after active therapy to prevent disease recurrence.
Question 2: Which clinical parameter is MOST useful for determining whether a periodontal maintenance patient is stable or deteriorating over time?
- Plaque index scores
- Bleeding on probing trends
- Furcation involvement changes
- Probing depth changes across visits (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Probing depth changes across visits
Serial probing depth measurements across maintenance visits are the most reliable indicator of stability or progression of periodontal disease.
Question 3: A patient on periodontal maintenance has persistent bleeding on probing at 4 sites after 2 consecutive visits. What is the most appropriate next step?
- Continue maintenance at the same interval
- Re-evaluate for additional active therapy (Correct answer)
- Prescribe systemic antibiotics immediately
- Increase recall to every 6 months
Correct answer: Re-evaluate for additional active therapy
Persistent bleeding on probing at multiple sites despite maintenance indicates active disease and warrants re-evaluation for additional active periodontal therapy.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the periodontal maintenance phase (Phase III)?
- Eliminating all residual pockets
- Preventing recurrence of disease and tooth loss (Correct answer)
- Achieving complete bone regeneration
- Reducing systemic inflammation markers
Correct answer: Preventing recurrence of disease and tooth loss
The primary goal of periodontal maintenance is to prevent recurrence of periodontal disease and minimize the risk of tooth loss over time.
Question 5: During a periodontal maintenance visit, subgingival debridement is indicated when:
- All probing depths are ≤3 mm with no bleeding
- Residual pockets ≥4 mm are present with calculus or bleeding (Correct answer)
- Patient reports sensitivity only
- Supragingival calculus is detected
Correct answer: Residual pockets ≥4 mm are present with calculus or bleeding
Subgingival debridement during maintenance is warranted when residual pockets ≥4 mm are present with signs of active inflammation such as bleeding or calculus.
Question 6: Which systemic condition is most strongly associated with increased susceptibility to periodontal disease progression during the maintenance phase?
- Hypertension
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus (poorly controlled) (Correct answer)
- Osteoporosis
- Hypothyroidism
Correct answer: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (poorly controlled)
Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes significantly impairs host defense and is the systemic condition most strongly linked to accelerated periodontal breakdown during maintenance.
Question 7: When transitioning a patient from active periodontal therapy to maintenance, which factor most influences the selection of the recall interval?
- Patient age
- Number of missing teeth
- Severity of initial disease and response to treatment (Correct answer)
- Insurance coverage frequency
Correct answer: Severity of initial disease and response to treatment
The recall interval is individualized based on the severity of the patient's original disease and how well they responded to active periodontal therapy.
ABP Maintenance Protocols 2
According to the AAP, what is the recommended recall interval for most periodontal maintenance patients following active therapy?