If you see a few of your teeth have started to look longer or you frequently experience sensitivity to hot and cold, your gums could be receding, and a portion of your tooth’s root is exposed. Gum recession occurs gradually, and it may slip up on you. Gum grafting treatment for receding gums can assist avoid any additional loss of gum tissue.
Causes of Gum Recession
Periodontal (gum) disease is a typical reason for gum recession. And according to Mayo Center, insufficient oral health, hereditary makeup, hormone modifications, diabetes and other diseases can all increase your risk of initial infection. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Avoidance (CDC) reports that cigarette smokers are 4 times more likely to establish gum disease compared to nonsmokers. Many sort of tobacco items can increase your risk in this way.
Other reasons for gum recession consist of an aggressive or inappropriate brushing method, the extreme force placed on your teeth from grinding or clenching and periodically the uncommon forces caused by misaligned teeth. Likewise, remember tongue and lip piercings can rub and irritate the gums, using the gum tissue away.
Treatment for Receding Gums Using Gum Grafts
When receding gums are brought on by heavy tartar accumulation and gum disease, the American Dental Association (ADA) suggests a professional cleansing as a first step in stopping the recession. Also called scaling and root planing, this procedure removes bacterial plaque and tartar accumulation from your teeth and root surface areas, assisting your gums heal and preventing any additional recession.
If your recession is more substantial, however, consider gum graft surgery– which the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) specifies not just repair works the wounded area, but also assists to avoid additional infection.
Types of Gum Grafts
Pittsburgh periodontist, Dr. Michael Stypula, describes the 3 types of gum graft surgeries performed in his practice:
- Connective-tissue grafts are the most common implanting procedure, used to treat several areas of recession. The tissue is taken from a flap of tissue from the roof of your mouth and after that stitched over the area of exposed root.
- Free gingival grafts are similar to connective tissue grafts, although the tissue is drawn from the palate straight.
- Pedicle grafts use the tissue nearby to the tooth in requirement of repair work.
Contributed clinically processed human tissue can also be used for the grafting procedure, according to the AAP.
Benefits of Gum Grafts
In addition to stopping the procedure of gum recession and bone loss, gum grafts can lower tooth sensitivity (especially to cold and hot foods) and protect the roots of your teeth from root decay. Gum grafts likewise result in a more even gumline, offering you the advantage of smiling and speaking without self-consciousness over the appearance of your teeth.
Tissue Graft for Receding Gums
If you’ve just recently been told by your dental expert or gum doctor (periodontist) that you require a gum graft, do not panic. Gum surgery sounds worse than it is. A gum graft might be required to safeguard your teeth from the harmful impacts of gum recession, or you might decide to have one to improve the appearance of your smile.
Gum recession is the process in which the tissue that surrounds the teeth retreats from a tooth, exposing more of the tooth or the tooth’s root. This can cause damage to supporting bone. Gum recession is a typical dental problem; it affects 4% to 12% of adults and frequently goes undetected up until it ends up being more severe.
Many individuals do not even observe that their gums have actually receded, because it is a progressive process. Nevertheless, in time, an exposed tooth root can not just look awful, however can cause tooth sensitivity, particularly when consuming cold or hot foods. Eventually, gum recession, if not dealt with, can cause tooth loss. To fix the damage and prevent more dental problems, a gum tissue graft might be required.
Gum Tissue Graft Procedure
3 different types of gum tissue grafts are normally performed. Which type your dentist uses on you will depend on your specific needs. The graft treatments consist of:
- Connective-tissue grafts. This is the most typical approach used to treat root exposure. During the procedure, a flap of skin is cut at the roof of your mouth (taste buds) and tissue from under the flap, called subepithelial connective tissue, is removed then sewed to the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root. After the connective tissue– the graft– has been gotten rid of from under the palatal flap, the flap is sewn back down.
- Free gingival grafts. Similar to a connective-tissue graft, free gingival grafts involve using tissue from the roof of the mouth. But rather of making a flap and removing tissue under the leading layer of flesh, a small amount of tissue is removed directly from the roof of the mouth and after that attached to the gum area being treated. This approach is used usually in people who have thin gums to begin with and need extra tissue to expand the gums.
- Pedicle grafts. In this procedure, instead of taking tissue from the taste buds, it is grafted from gum around or near the tooth needing repair. The flap, called a pedicle, is only partially cut away so that one edge stays connected. The gum is then stoppeded or to cover the exposed root and sewn into place. This procedure can only be done in people who have a lot of gum tissue near the tooth.
Some dental experts and patients choose to use graft material from a tissue bank rather of from the roof of the mouth. Often, tissue-stimulating proteins are used to motivate your body’s natural ability to grow bone and tissue. Your dental professional can inform you which method will work best for you.
Good Oral Care for Receding Gums Prevention
Keeping your teeth clean and gums healthy is type in preventing gum recession. Brush your teeth thoroughly two times a day with a soft-bristled brush, using the appropriate tooth brushing technique. And don’t forget: Flossing daily cleans away bacteria and plaque that conceal between your teeth. For even more protection, consider an antimicrobial mouthwash.
Your dental expert or dental hygienist might be the first to discover an area of gum recession while analyzing your teeth, and a professional cleaning can eliminate the tartar that your toothbrush can’t wipe. So, be persistent about scheduling your routine assessment and cleansing consultations.
If you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist about a mouthguard to help break the habit, and discuss tooth-straightening alternatives for any misaligned teeth. Eventually, keeping watch for the early signs of gum disease — such as red, swollen gums that bleed easily, or persistent bad breath — will assist you catch the infection before it needs professional care.
Preventing gum recession is much easier and less pricey than treatment for receding gums. So, if you have been lacking a home care routine or current dental visit, ramp it up! And call your dental expert at the first sign of periodontal problem.
