Periodontist Delta, BC

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What is Gingival Recession?

If you have a close look at your teeth near the pink gum line, do you see your tooth roots exposed?  This is not a normal occurrence, and aging should not make your gums shrink away!  They might be like that due to anatomically thin gums, position of your teeth, smoking, periodontal disease, or overly aggressive brushing of the area. You can call our periodontist in DELTA, BC for more information.

In those situations, the exposed tooth roots are prone to:

Abrasion:

notching of the roots, much like a tree that is being sawed, when you consistently brush your teeth too vigorously or use abrasive toothpastes.

Erosion:

due to acidity in your food, drinks, or stomach acid if you have acid reflux.

Tooth Sensitivity:

that zing when you drink hot, cold, or acidic beverages.

Gum Inflammation:

if food is collecting at the gum line when it is not well attached to the tooth surface, leaving the tooth prone to decay.

Gum recession:

can also mean that the underlying bone that supports your teeth are being damaged as well, although for the front teeth, it is usually more of an esthetic concern.

This is where gum grafting can help, either by reinforcing the attachment of your gum so that it does not recede further, or by growing back gum tissue that has been lost.

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A CALL BACK

Please give our periodontist a call with any questions or comments you might have on your dental issue, or to schedule an appointment. We are here in Delta, BC to help you with your gingivitis or any other periodontal diseases.

    Types of Soft Tissue Grafts

    Connective Tissue Grafts — The “gold standard” when it comes to trying to achieve root coverage, a piece of connective tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth through a small incision to the upper palate. The incision is stitched together, and the piece of tissue is tucked under the receded gum line and stitched in place to cover the exposed roots.

    Free Gingival Grafts — Free gum grafts use a piece of skin taken directly from the roof of your mouth. The area of recession where the gums are not well-anchored to the teeth and bones will be reinforced by stitching this graft right by the recession. This technique is an extremely reliable way to anchor the gum line in place.

    Allografts — If you are worried about the discomfort of taking tissue from the roof of the mouth, using medically processed donor tissues can make it simple for you (frequently used for burn victims). Less healing time is expected through this route.

    Do Gum Grafts Hurt?

    They do not hurt as much as significant and uncontrolled gum loss!  Furthermore, through the use of medications, dressings placed over the wound, and a custom-made palate protector after the procedure, the discomfort is usually minimal and limited to the first 7-10 days.

    Successful Gum Graft

    Success in gum grafting is dependent on your cooperation with our post-procedure instructions. If you following oral hygiene measures, take medications as directed, and limit touching and moving the area of the graft, gum grafts are extremely predictable! Furthermore, understanding why gum recession was there in the first place means you are now able to take preventive measures, so that your gum graft will remain successful!

    What is Periodontal Disease?

    When the gum and bone that surrounds your teeth (periodontium) are always inflamed and infected, they will shrink away over time. This leaves your teeth poorly supported, becoming looser as it gets worse. Once the gum and bone shrink away, it cannot grow back. However, through meticulous oral hygiene measures and treatment, we can make it healthy and solidify what remains.

    What Causes Periodontal Disease or Gingivitis?

    Gingivitis describes the swelling of the pink gums around the teeth, often due to the accumulation of plaque, which is the sticky white film around teeth that harbors bacteria. The gums would look puffy, red, and bleed very easily when you brush.
    Periodontitis is the inflammation and loss of ligaments and bone that normally support the roots of teeth. Although inadequate oral hygiene can play a significant part in periodontal disease, other factors which significantly increase the risk include:

    • Smoking
    • Diabetes
    • Genetics
    • Medications (blood pressure, seizure, immunosuppressant)
    • Stress

    Minimizing Risk of Periodontal Disease:

    • Non-Surgical Treatment
      • Root cleaning at the appropriate frequency to manage your risk for bone loss
      • Mouth rinses
      • Oral antibiotics
      • Local antibiotics placed under the gums
      • Custom Oral Hygiene methods
      • Stop Smoking
      • Surgical Periodontal Treatment
        • Recontouring of gum and bone around affected teeth to allow better access for professional root cleaning and daily home care

    Bite Problems and Periodontal Disease

    If the way your top and bottom teeth fit together, or the chewing motion that you use while eating is placing significant stress on certain teeth, tooth loosening can happen rapidly in those areas. A close examination can help us find these areas, and to balance your bite through various methods.

    • Bite deprogramming and equilibration
    • Orthodontics
    • Replacement of worn or damaged teeth or fillings
    • Replacing missing teeth
    • Custom fitted bite guard
    • Splinting teeth together for support
    gum infection

    Doing Nothing About Periodontal Disease

    If periodontal disease is not controlled, further loss of supporting bone means that the teeth will eventually be lost. The fewer teeth you have, the more it affects the way you look, and your ability to eat and speak. Periodontal disease is correlated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and preterm, low birth weight babies for pregnant women. So we recommend you to visit your periodontist for any related issue.

    What is Surgical Periodontal Therapy?

    As periodontal disease progresses, deep pockets can form between the teeth and gums, and the shape of the supporting bone can become very difficult to clean properly. Surgical Periodontal Therapy involves removing unhealthy tissue, re-contouring the gum and bones to make pockets shallower and easier to clean, and may involve gum or bone grafting to regain healthy, attached supporting structure to your teeth. The result is more solid teeth to eat with, and a more healthy appearance.

    Materials

    • Anesthetic, stitches, bone graft material (synthetic or donor tissue that has been sterilized)
    • Antibiotics and mouth rinse following the procedure

    After Surgical Periodontal Therapy

    Avoid using hard toothbrushes or other oral hygiene aids that may irritate the wound. Doing your best to avoid chewing on the area that was worked on will also help you heal with no complications.

    Risks of Surgical Periodontal Therapy

    • Temporary gum tenderness

    • Temporary teeth sensitivity

    • Longer looking teeth but shallower gum pockets

    • Increased spaces between teeth near the gum line

    • Small risk of gum infection

    Gingival Recession

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