Periodontal Maintenance Therapy: When, How and Why
Date(s)
Description
Periodontal maintenance is the cornerstone of long-term oral health and tooth retention in patients with a history of periodontal disease. Despite its clinical importance, the implementation and rationale behind maintenance protocols vary widely among practitioners. This course explores the evidence-based principles of periodontal maintenance, emphasizing when it should be initiated, how it should be delivered, and why it is essential for preventing disease recurrence and tooth loss. Drawing from real clinical cases and recent peer-reviewed research, this course will provide clinicians with practical strategies for individualized care-planning, patient communication and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Learning Objectives
- Define the role and objectives of periodontal maintenance therapy in the continuum of periodontal care.
- Identify clinical and risk-based criteria for initiating and modifying periodontal maintenance intervals.
- Differentiate between active therapy and maintenance care in terms of procedures, goals and outcomes.
- Evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of periodontal maintenance in reducing tooth loss and disease progression.
- Apply personalized strategies to improve patient adherence and long-term outcomes in periodontal maintenance programs.
Speaker Bio
Tae Kwon, DDS, MMSc, received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Toronto. He pursued and received his specialty training in periodontology as well as a Master of Medical Sciences from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where he was the recipient of the Hanley D. Epstein Award for clinical and academic excellence. Kwon has served as an ad-hoc reviewer for numerous dental journals; he is an editorial board member of Quintessence International, International Dental Journal and Dental Traumatology; and he is the author of many articles in peer-reviewed dental journals. In addition, Kwon was a part-time clinical instructor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, a lecturer at the Tufts School of Dental Medicine and a guest speaker at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He also directs a local Seattle Study Club chapter, NH Study Club for Excellence in Dentistry, and the Monadnock Dental Hygiene Study Club. Kwon maintains his private practice, Monadnock Perio & Implant Center, in Keene, New Hampshire. Aside from his passion for dentistry, Kwon is happily married to his wife, Jihae, and has two beautiful children, daughter Hailey and son Evan. A huge fan of baseball, Kwon roots for the Toronto Blue Jays (that comes from growing up in Canada!). Kwon feels extremely fortunate to have an opportunity to share his dental philosophies through this learning session.