Gum Regeneration
Receding gum regeneration treatment
The gums are the greatest support that the teeth have. Your health is critical to ensuring the integrity of your teeth. However, they are a forgotten tissue that does not usually have the same maintenance given to teeth. Generally, people tend to pay more attention to the appearance of spots, wear and cavities of the dental pieces than to the appearance of a gum retraction that leaves the maxillary bone exposed due to various factors. Almost everyone suffers from receding gums. Receding gums are a condition where the roots of your teeth are exposed and become more fragile. You can easily treat mild receding gums on your own. On the other hand, when receding gums become too severe, surgery is the only way to fix them.
What causes receding gums, and how do you treat them?
The retraction of the gums, that is, the more or less pronounced exposure of a part of the maxillary bone due to wear of the gingival contour that covers the tooth, can be caused by different factors:
- A very strong and vertical brushing technique that can be traumatic and accelerate gum wear.
- Patients with fillings, crowns, or other faulty treatments can also suffer from this problem.
- People with bruxism or dental grinding, with which excessive pressure is generated on teeth and gums.
- But one of the most common factors is usually periodontitis, an infection that affects multiple tissues.
Other causes include:
- Poor oral hygiene: When plaque is not removed properly, it can irritate the gums, causing them to recede.
- Trauma to the gums: Gums can recede when damaged after an operation or accident, for example;
- Genetic predisposition: Just like the rest of your body, the condition of your gums is also sensitive. If (one of) your parents suffer from receding gums, you are more likely to get this too;
- A deficiency of vitamins C and D;
- Very crooked teeth: With crooked teeth, the gums become inflamed more easily, and the gums recede more quickly.
And thanks to advances in dentistry, this retraction can be treated. However, it must be taken into account that before prescribing a gum regeneration treatment, it is necessary to treat the original periodontal problem, either by making a splint for bruxism, treating periodontitis, or educating on proper brushing techniques. Thus, once any of these pathologies is resolved, treatment proceeds.
Procedure and Process Treatment
With receding gums, the necks of the teeth are exposed, and cold or hot food and drinks can cause a sensitive reaction. Cracks and crevices between the teeth can also recognize receded gums. When the gums recede, your teeth appear longer and may take on a more yellow color. We utilize top-notch techniques and the latest tools at Virginia Dental Care to resolve all your teeth and gum issues.
1. Consultation
During the first appointment, our dentist will do an oral exam and determine how badly the gums are receding before deciding on the best course of treatment. After that, our experts prescribe a tailor-made treatment method.
2. Brushing Techniques
If your gums are receding because you don't know how to brush properly, our dentist will give you a personalized education program on how to brush properly and suggest oral health aids.
3. Treatment
Brushing and scaling are the most effective ways to protect receding gums from further damage. However, the dentist may recommend desensitizing bonding agents, toothpaste, and varnish for exposed root.
4. Recovery
Once the tissues in that area are healthy, usually after scaling and root planing, you may need a gum graft to strengthen your stunning smile and stop tooth loss. So count on us to enhance the beauty of your smile.
Treatment for the regeneration of receding gums
Since the gums do not regenerate by themselves, once they begin to retract and there is no solution to the problem that causes this retraction, it is possible to lose the supporting tooth. The latter, among other reasons such as aesthetics, makes many periodontists recommend performing a gum regeneration treatment. This minimally invasive surgical intervention allows the gums affected by the recession to recover their good health:
Gum graft Using this technique, it is possible to cover the ‘root’ of the tooth that has been excessively exposed. In this case, it is necessary to take a part of donor soft tissue (generally from the palate) to repair the recipient area. Since the donor is the patient himself, there is no risk of the tissue being incompatible.
Gum stretching Technically known as a coronally mobilized flap, this surgery stretches the gum when the recession is slight or covers the small interdental spaces that can alter the smile’s aesthetics.
Growth factors Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a filler material extracted from the patient’s blood and obtained through centrifugation. This material manages to regenerate and recover the function of damaged tissues and is especially interesting for reinforcing the gums when dental implants are placed.
Prevent Receding gum
Preventing receding gums starts with good oral hygiene. Brush twice daily with fluoride-containing toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush (soft or medium). You can also purchase an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor that warns you if you’re pressing too hard while brushing. Gently brush the edges of the gums. An important addition to this ritual is flossing, stoking, or brushing, sometimes supplemented with a mouthwash or tongue scraper. With receding gums, it is important to brush carefully, especially not too hard, but carefully.
Maintenance treatment for receding gums
Regardless of the gum regeneration technique, as it is a minimally invasive surgery, the patient will experience only mild discomfort and sensitivity that will disappear in the following 48 hours. To keep the gums in optimal condition, it is essential to follow the specialist’s recommendations regarding oral hygiene at home, as well as to go to the pertinent check-ups and perform professional dental cleanings as often as advised. This makes it possible to be sure that the treatment will work.