What does a re-evaluation appointment check for in periodontal therapy?

In the context of periodontal therapy, a re-evaluation appointment primarily serves to assess the effectiveness of the initial treatment. This involves checking for plaque control and probing depth to determine if the periodontal disease is under control and if there has been any improvement or regression in periodontal health.

During this appointment, the clinician evaluates the patient's oral hygiene and plaque control to ensure that the patient is effectively maintaining their hygiene practices, which is critical for the success of periodontal treatment. Additionally, examining probing depths allows for an assessment of the health of the periodontal tissues. Decreased probing depths indicate healing and a positive response to treatment, whereas stable or increased depths may suggest that further intervention is necessary.

The assessment of final restorations, antimicrobial therapy efficacy, and restorative factors can be important components of overall dental care and may be relevant in different contexts, but they are not the primary focus of a re-evaluation appointment specifically for periodontal therapy.