Supportive Periodontal Therapy & Maintenance Flashcards
7 cards from real CPT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Supportive Periodontal Therapy & Maintenance flashcards as text
What is the recommended recall interval for most patients in supportive periodontal therapy (SPT)?
Answer: Every 3 months
Three-month intervals are standard for most SPT patients because periodontal pathogens recolonize subgingival sites within approximately 9–12 weeks after debridement.
Which factor has the GREATEST influence on preventing recurrence of periodontitis during SPT?
Answer: Patient compliance with recall appointments
Patient compliance with regular SPT visits is the single most important determinant of long-term periodontal stability and prevention of disease recurrence.
During an SPT appointment, which assessment is typically performed FIRST?
Answer: Medical and dental history update
Updating the medical and dental history is performed first to identify any systemic or medication changes that may affect treatment planning.
In SPT, 'disease reactivation' is defined as:
Answer: Increased probing depths, attachment loss, or bone loss compared to post-treatment baseline
Disease reactivation refers to objective clinical evidence of ongoing periodontal destruction, including increased probing depth, attachment loss, or radiographic bone loss.
Which index is most commonly used to assess plaque control during SPT visits?
Answer: O'Leary Plaque Control Record
The O'Leary Plaque Control Record quantifies plaque presence as a percentage of surfaces, making it useful for patient motivation and tracking improvement during SPT.
A patient in SPT shows a 2mm increase in probing depths at multiple sites at their 3-month recall. What is the MOST appropriate next step?
Answer: Re-evaluate for additional active periodontal therapy or referral to a periodontist
A 2mm increase at multiple sites signals disease reactivation, warranting re-evaluation for retreatment or specialist referral to determine if surgical intervention is indicated.
How does supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) differ from a routine dental prophylaxis?
Answer: SPT includes comprehensive periodontal assessment and targeted subgingival debridement for previously treated patients, while prophylaxis is preventive cleaning for periodontally healthy patients
SPT is a therapeutic maintenance procedure for periodontitis patients that includes full periodontal re-evaluation and subgingival debridement, distinguishing it from a preventive prophylaxis for healthy patients.