Typically when you hear the word “recession,” it’s almost guaranteed to be bad. While economic recessions and receding hairlines get a lot of attention, another common issue is gum recession. This is when an infection causes the soft tissues in your mouth to pull back, exposing the sensitive roots. It not only makes the teeth appear overly long, but it also drastically increases someone’s risk of tooth loss. While they can’t help if your hair is thinning, a periodontist knows exactly what to do if you’re dealing with gum recession.
Scaling & Root Planing
The most common cause of gum recession is periodontal disease, which you probably know by its more common name (that is usually written in scary font in toothpaste commercials), gum disease.
This is a bacterial infection that develops in the mouth, most often due to a lack of consistent oral hygiene. Once harmful bacteria reach a certain level, they can start to damage the gum tissue.
Scaling and root planing is a type of deep dental cleaning that focuses on removing the plaque and tartar buildup where these bacteria live. A periodontist numbs your mouth, cleans around and beneath the gum line, and then the roots of the teeth are smoothed. Why? Because this goes a long way in preventing the future accumulation of the plaque that started the problem in the first place!
Gum Grafting
Unfortunately, once the gums are gone in a certain area, they almost certainly won’t grow back. But gum grafting enables your periodontist to restore the health, appearance, and strength of your smile with a procedure that only takes one appointment.
Using tissue taken from the roof of your mouth (or from a tissue bank), the periodontist sutures it into place to restore the gumline to its original position. There, it will naturally integrate with the nearby gums to create a seamless result.
Periodontal Maintenance
While it might be a bit of a mouthful (literally), periodontal maintenance is really just a dental cleaning tailored to someone who has been diagnosed with gum disease (and likely gum recession).
In addition to polishing the enamel, periodontal maintenance has a similar goal to scaling detailed above, giving your periodontist a chance to remove any calculus (another name for tartar) that could lead to infection and recession in the future. In other words, this is proactive prevention. This is why patients typically receive periodontal maintenance every three to four months as opposed to just twice a year like a regular dental cleaning.
While gum recession is certainly serious, when you decide to work with a periodontist, they can help you no matter what your situation might be. Thanks to their specialty training, you’re able to stop the process, reverse it, and make sure it doesn’t happen again, leading to peace of mind (as well as a smile that looks and feels great!).
About the Author
Dr. Zachary Carnow is a board-certified periodontist and third-generation dentist in Frisco who completed his specialty training at the prestigious Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. A standout specialist, he has helped hundreds of patients take control of their oral health in the face of gum recession, and he’s eager to do the same for you.
If you’re concerned about gum recession and want to put a stop to it, contact our office at 214-619-4990.