A periodontitis patient should be evaluated at approximately which interval?

• A. 1 month
• B. 3-6 months
• C. 6-12 months
• D. Every 2 weeks

Answer: (B)

Maintenance after periodontitis treatment is planned to catch recurrence early while keeping care practical for the owner. The recommended interval is approximately every 3–6 months because plaque and calculus can reform and pockets can deepen over months, so checking and performing maintenance before progression occurs helps preserve attachment and prevent further bone loss. At these visits, you can recheck gingival health, measure pocket depths, perform subgingival debridement if needed, provide polish, update radiographs to monitor bone levels, and reinforce home care strategies. Shorter intervals like every month or two weeks are unnecessary for routine maintenance and can be burdensome, while waiting 6–12 months risks missing signs of progression or relapse. Individual cases may trend toward the shorter end (more frequent) if the disease is aggressive or home care is poor, but the general guideline is 3–6 months.