As adults, one of the most important things we can do for our oral health is to visit the dentist. Keeping our mouths healthy at home is not always enough. Unfortunately, one of the most common oral health issues adults face is receding gums. Receding gums can lead to further oral health issues, so get treatment for this condition as soon as possible.
What Are the Common Causes of Gum Recession?
Gum recession is a common dental problem that can cause pain and discomfort. It occurs when the gum tissue surrounding your teeth begins to pull away from the tooth, exposing more of your tooth root. Common causes of gum recession include periodontal disease, misaligned teeth, aggressive brushing, and hormonal changes. In addition, certain medications and tobacco use can also contribute to receding gums.
Some of the most common causes include the following:
- Poor dental hygiene: Not brushing your teeth regularly and thoroughly can cause plaque buildup and lead to receding gums.
- Aggressive brushing: Using a toothbrush with hard bristles and brushing and flossing too vigorously can also cause gum recession.
- Tobacco use: Smoking or other forms of tobacco use can damage the gum tissue and cause it to recede.
- Clenching or grinding teeth: Frequent teeth clenching or grinding can put too much pressure on the gums and cause them to recede.
- Periodontal disease: Gum disease is one of the leading causes of gum recession. Tooth loss from gum disease can cause receding gums and gum infections.
- Misaligned teeth: Crooked teeth can put excessive pressure on the gums, which can then cause gum recession.
Treatments for Receding Gums
Dr. Chen can treat receding gums in a number of ways. Treatment for gum recession depends on the underlying cause and usually involves a combination of procedures. Procedure such as scaling and root planing remove plaque buildup, and tissue grafts restore lost gum tissue.
We start by determining the cause of your receding gums. Once Dr. Chen determines the underlying cause of your receding gums, she can provide the most relevant treatment options.
One of the most common treatments for receding gums is deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing. This is a procedure in which our dentist removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line and conditions the gum pockets. This helps to reduce gum recession by removing the bacteria and toxins that cause it.
Another treatment option is gum grafting. During a gum grafting procedure, an oral surgeon takes a piece of healthy gum tissue from one area and grafts it onto the receded area. This restores the original gum line and improves the appearance of your teeth.
You will work closely with our dentists to ensure the best possible outcome. With the right treatment plan and diligence, we can help you fix your receding gums and keep your mouth healthier for longer.
Plano, TX dentist Dr. Sowell or Dr. Sara Chen can replace the gum lost by doing a gum graft over the exposed root. A connective tissue graft restores the tooth to your ideal tooth length. If you are showing signs of gum recession and red and swollen gums, you might also have gum disease.
Straumann® Emdogain® for Gum Recession
Dr. Chen and Dr. Sowell use Straumann® Emdogain® for some patients with gum recession because of periodontal disease. Emdogain® is a bioactive material that promotes the predictable growth of hard and soft tissues. It stimulates osteogenic (bone) and fibroblastic (connective tissue) progenitor cells within the bone marrow.
Traditionally, surgical procedures were the only available option for treating gum recession. However, Emdogain® is a modern and minimally-invasive treatment option. Emdogain® can help improve the appearance of receding gums, as well as stop further gum recession and tooth sensitivity. Furthermore, the procedure does not leave you with postoperative swelling, bleeding, or pain!
Emdogain® is a soft tissue regeneration treatment that we use to improve the health of receding gums. During the treatment, the doctor applies a protein that they extract from the patient’s own saliva (Emdogain®) to the gums. This stimulates the growth of healthy gum tissue in areas that have experienced recession.
The best part about Emdogain® is that it’s a relatively quick treatment that we can perform in our dental office. The entire process takes less than an hour to complete and requires no cutting or sutures. Following the treatment, you may experience some minor pain or discomfort similar to a tooth extraction. But temporary discomfort will dissipate quickly with pain medication.
Emdogain® offers a proven and reliable option for treating gum recession and restoring healthy gums. Emdogain® might be a suitable treatment for your receding gums! Please consult with our dentist to discuss all of your available options. Give Aesthetic Dentistry Centre a call at (972) 382-6855 or request an appointment online.