CPT Supportive Periodontal Therapy & Maintenance 3

Question 1

Approximately what percentage of SPT patients experience recurrence of periodontitis despite regular maintenance visits?

Accepted Answer

20–30%

Answer

Less than 5%

Answer

50–60%

Answer

80–90%

Question 2

Which approach to subgingival debridement is MOST effective during SPT maintenance visits for residual pockets?

Accepted Answer

Ultrasonic instrumentation combined with hand scaling

Answer

Rubber cup polishing with prophylaxis paste alone

Answer

Air polishing as the sole debridement modality

Answer

Chemical irrigation without mechanical debridement

Question 3

A patient at their 4-month SPT visit presents with localized reactivation at two posterior sites with 6mm pocketing and 2mm attachment loss. What is the BEST course of action?

Accepted Answer

Provide site-specific retreatment and refer to a periodontist to evaluate for surgical intervention

Answer

Continue regular SPT at the same interval without modification

Answer

Extract the affected teeth to eliminate the disease site immediately

Answer

Prescribe systemic amoxicillin as the sole treatment without debridement

Question 4

How does tobacco smoking most significantly affect outcomes in supportive periodontal therapy?

Accepted Answer

Smoking masks bleeding on probing and impairs immune response, increasing recurrence risk despite apparent clinical stability

Answer

Smoking has no clinically significant effect on SPT outcomes in compliant patients

Answer

Smoking decreases pocket depth readings, improving apparent clinical outcomes

Answer

Smoking increases saliva buffering capacity, which protects against microbial recolonization

Question 5

Which interdental cleaning aid is MOST effective for SPT patients with open embrasures (type III papilla)?

Accepted Answer

Interdental brush sized to fit the embrasure

Answer

Waxed dental floss

Answer

Water flosser used as the sole interdental device

Answer

Toothpick in a plastic holder

Question 6

Which of the following MUST be documented at every SPT visit?

Accepted Answer

Probing depths, bleeding on probing, plaque score, treatment provided, and any clinical changes since the last visit

Answer

Only sites showing new radiographic bone loss at the current visit

Answer

Patient-reported symptoms and subjective complaints only

Answer

Insurance billing codes and fee schedules only

Question 7

Which adjunctive therapy is most appropriate for high-risk SPT patients with persistent pocketing of ≥5mm that fails to respond to repeated mechanical debridement?

Accepted Answer

Locally delivered antimicrobials (e.g., minocycline microspheres or doxycycline gel) placed in affected sites

Answer

Full-mouth fluoride varnish application as the sole additional therapy

Answer

Ozone gas therapy replacing mechanical debridement entirely

Answer

Immediate extraction of all teeth with persistent pocketing