What Causes Receding Gums?
Gum recession is the term used for a condition where the gums pull away from the bottom of your tooth and show more of your tooth or its root. The gaps that are formed can store bacteria that multiply and if this is not addressed, it can cause damage to the tooth roots, and ultimately lead to tooth loss.
Periodontal disease is a leading cause of gum recession. Gum infections that are caused by bacteria can weaken and damage your gum tissue, and then the bone that supports your teeth.
Periodontal disease may or may not present with symptoms, and its early stages are often silent. It is only when gum disease gets to its more advanced stages that patients begin to become aware of symptoms like
- Tender or sensitive gums
- Red, bleeding or swollen gums
- Bad breath
What Causes Periodontal Disease?
Brushing your teeth too hard
Brushing or flossing too aggressively along your gum line can wear away at the gums. Use a medium to soft bristled toothbrush and rather angle your toothbrush correctly than use brute force to remove the plaque from your teeth.
Hormone changes
Hormonal changes to a woman’s body during times like pregnancy and menopause can make you more susceptible to gum disease.
Crooked teeth and jaw misalignments
Patients whose bites are misaligned or who have crooked teeth may find dental hygiene more difficult.
Receding gums is a relatively common condition, yet many patients aren’t aware that they have it because it occurs gradually. Visiting your dentist on a regular basis is the best way to detect the early stages of gum recession.
Smoking
Smokers are more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers.
What Are The Symptoms Of Receding Gums?
As your gums recede over time you might start to notice
Longer teeth
As your gums pull away from the bottom of your teeth, it makes their surface area bigger and the tooth appear longer.
Visible tooth roots
Exposed tooth roots are sensitive and can cause discomfort.
Receding gums treatment
Any mild gum recession can be treated by a deep clean to remove bacteria, and plaque and tartar build up. Your dentist will then smooth the root of your tooth over so that it is more difficult for bacteria to re-enter. You may be prescribed a course of antibiotics to ensure that all bacteria is killed.
Infinity Care Dental offers also Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation as a minimally-invasive treatment for gum recession. The Pinhole Surgical Technique is a scalpel-free and suture-free procedure unlike other grafting techniques.
How Does Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Work?
Your dentist will use a needle to make a small incision into your gum. He will then use special instruments to loosen your gum tissue and manipulate it over the piece that has receded.
Due to the fact that no sutures or stiches need to be used, patients can look forward to a procedure with milder post-treatment symptoms like bleeding, swelling and pain. In most cases, the results are instantly visible.
How Does This Compare To Other Receding Gums Treatments?
In the past other treatments for gum recession have required tissue grafts or donor tissue to attach to the patients’ gum line. The tissue would have to be stitched into place and expected to integrate with the existing gum tissue over time. While the technique has been very effective, it is much more complex than pinhole gum technique and patients much prefer the experience of a single hole than multiple sutures.
Opinions differ between the aesthetic results being superior to and equal to the traditional grafting technique.
What Are The Benefits?
Patients can look forward to:
- Minimally invasive surgery with no sutures or no scalpels
- Superior cosmetic results are achieved without taking tissue from you
- Quicker recovery with less risk of side effects
Through the use of pinhole rejuvenation your mouth can be restored very close to its original aesthetic and function.
Why Shouldn’t You Ignore Gum Recession?
It is important to get treatment for gum recession as soon as possible to prevent it from progressing further.
Untreated gum recession may result in
- Hypersensitivity to brushing your teeth or temperature variations
- Your gum recession will worsen and become more noticeable
- Gum recession will progress to expose your tooth roots and this can cause cavities to develop
- In extreme cases, your teeth may loosen and fall out
Why should you choose infinity dental care to help you?
Dr Jack is one of six dental practitioners who has been trained by Dr John Chao to perform The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique. Call us for more on receding gums treatment: (02) 9159 6237.