Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation

A Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation, or CPE, is a way to assess your periodontal health by examining:

• Your teeth
  
• Your plaque
• Your gums

• Your bite
  
• Your bone structure
• Your risk factors

When Dr. Scheines performs this evaluation, she will look at these six areas to determine the state of your periodontal health.

Why do I need a Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation?
Recent research has indicated that the prevalence of periodontal disease in the U.S. may be significantly higher than originally estimated. This means that all adults should thoroughly assess the state of their periodontal health to receive accurate information about the health of their mouths.

By assessing your oral health on an annual basis, you and your dental professional will know how healthy your mouth is, and will be better able to notice any conditions, such as periodontal disease, that may need additional treatment.

Research has also shown, and experts agree, that there is an association between periodontal disease and other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases. Therefore, it is very important to treat the inflammation that causes periodontal disease as soon as possible to ensure that your entire body stays healthy.

Your Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation Checklist
To help you learn more about the state of your oral health download the Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation checklist from our website (CPE), print it out, and bring it to your next dental appointment.

Download CPE Checklist

Scaling & Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus [tartar] from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins. Scaling and root planing is sometimes followed by adjunctive therapy such as local delivery antimicrobials, systemic antibiotics, and host modulation, as needed on a case-by-case basis.

Periodontal Maintenance

Most periodontists would agree that after scaling and root planing, many patients do not require any further active treatment. However, the majority of patients will require ongoing maintenance therapy to sustain health.