Can You Fix Receding Gums?
Retracted gums are among the main reasons for dental appointments. And it’s no wonder, since the problem, in addition to aesthetic damage, is associated with pain and sensitivity that comes from the dental roots. The important thing to note about gum recession is that gums do not grow back, though your dentist will have some options for helping with the long-term health of your mouth once recession has started. Why does this happen? What treatments are available to protect the roots exposed by the recession and restore the harmony of the smile?
In fact, receding gums require dentist intervention. Otherwise, the problem will always remain as it is. And this happens because, associated with the receding gum, an equal or even greater portion of the bone that is located beneath it has also been lost – the correct term is reabsorbed. And that’s exactly where the crux of the matter lies: reabsorbed gums and bone do not regenerate by themselves. To remedy the problem, only with gum surgeries – but not everything is rosy in what is one of the most sought-after treatments today.
Causes for receding gums explain the irreversibility of the problem. There are numerous causes for the problem of gingival recession, but two of them are associated with most cases. The first is periodontitis , a chronic gingival disease caused by bacterial plaque accumulated between the tooth and gums and which destroys the bone and ligaments that support tooth roots and gingival structures. The other is the excessive pressure of the toothbrush bristles against the gums during oral hygiene. But knowing other causes for the problem is important because the frequency with which they appear is not that rare.
* periodontitis (chronic gum disease caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque)
* excessive force on the gums of toothbrushes and dental floss during tooth cleaning
* allergy to the metal of dental prostheses
* poorly made dental restorations or prostheses
* diabetes and HIV, which intensify gum disease
* nutritional deficiencies
* intense hormonal changes.
Gingival surgery: an option to reposition receding gums
Gingival recession is possible, yes, and the only way to reposition receding gums is through gingival plastic surgery. The technique, which is quick but may require a few days of rest and away from social activities, can be performed with or without grafts. In the technique without grafts, relaxing incisions allow the dentist to pull the retracted gingiva to its original position – precise sutures fix the gingival tissue in the ideal place. The indications, however, are restrictive and limited, compared to the surgical version with grafts. The postoperative period, on the other hand, is calmer and faster.
On the other hand, gingival surgery with graft generally brings more success and correction possibilities. Collected from the patient, a small strip of gum is surgically repositioned over the exposed tooth root, reconstructing the original shape of the gum tissue. The treatment success rate after 7 years is 60%, slightly higher than the graftless technique. Sometimes, two surgeries are necessary, separated by 90 days, so that the gingival edge stabilizes in the ideal location. The postoperative period is critical and requires extensive care.