Treatments
Gum Recession Treatments
Gum recessions create unevenness and misalignment of the gumline.
About This Treatment
Trauma and periodontal disease can sometimes cause gum recession, resulting in a patient’s tooth root being exposed.
Gum recession is a dental condition which occurs when a patient’s gum tissue wears away over time – exposing not only more of your teeth, but the tooth’s root as well. Gum recession, while not being very common, can happen to anyone. Because the condition often happens slowly over a long period of time, many individuals do not realize until their gums have receded nearly to the point of exposing their roots.
In the early stages, gum recession is characterized by increased tooth sensitivity – especially when eating or drinking hot or cold foods. However, if this condition is left untreated, and continues to progress it can often worsen to the point of severe damage or tooth loss. Whether it be for cosmetic reasons or to prevent damage to your exposed teeth, it’s vital that patients suffering seek gum recession treatment.
What is gum graft surgery?
A gum graft is a dental procedure performed to correct gum recession, gum shrinkage or the effects of gum disease. Gum graft surgery entails placing a small amount of new tissue in the area where the gum loss has occurred.
There are a few different types of gum graft procedures available, depending upon the type of damage as well as the extent of the damage.
The procedure begins with the administration of local anesthesia and then one of the following gum grafting can be performed.
There are 3 main types of gum graft surgery:
Connective tissue grafts – this type of surgery involves removing the tissue from the roof of the mouth. That tissue is then attached to the defect area to cover the exposed root.
Free Gingival Grafts – this type of graft is often performed on patients who have thin gums and need to add more gum volume to prevent gum shrinkage and recessions. Similar to the previous type of graft, tissue from the rooftop of the mouth is taken to add to the affected area.
Pedicle grafts – this type of surgery involves pulling the tissue close to the affected area back over the area. In this instance, the patient needs to already have enough existing gum next to the problem area.
I am extremely pleased with my treatments with Dr Germain who is clearly passionate about her work. Most of all I trust her skills and judgments. She has the ability to welcome you, make you feel so at ease. Her practice is clean and I feel taken care of. Like many of us, I do not like dentists and hate the pain – despite this, Dr Germain is a good listener and will do all that is required to put you at ease – without any pain! I cannot recommend her enough and have actually left my previous dentist to join her practice! 5 stars!
- What is a Periodontist?
A periodontist is a gum specialist who practices advanced dentistry to prevent disease from occurring and utilizes the latest scientific advancements to diagnose and treat periodontal disease. Periodontal specialists not only attend dental school, they also study three additional years at the doctoral level in order to master how to manage all dental conditions related to the bone and gums around the teeth.
In serious cases where a tooth is lost, a periodontist serves as an expert at placing dental implants For this reason, most periodontists have special skills in cosmetic dentistry.
- Can Bone Loss Be Reversed?
Bone loss can be stopped by periodontal treatment but it cannot be reversed.
- Can Gum Grow Back?
The truth is that gum does not grow back. Bone and gum graft surgery is often the best solution.
