Recession Treatment and Gum Grafting
When gums recede, the body loses a natural defense against both bacterial penetration and trauma, which can result in premature tooth loss. When gum recession reaches the mucosa, the first line of defense against bacterial attack is lost. When gum recession becomes problematic, gum reconstruction using a variety of gum replacement techniques best suited for your particular condition, becomes an option.
Gum recession results in bone loss around a tooth, root sensitivity to hot and cold foods, and an unsightly appearance of the gum and tooth. When significant gum recession exposes the root surface, which is softer than enamel, it can lead to root caries and root gouging.
When gums recede, the body loses a natural defense against both bacterial penetration and trauma, which can result in premature tooth loss. When gum recession reaches the mucosa, the first line of defense against bacterial attack is lost. When gum recession becomes problematic, gum reconstruction using a variety of gum replacement techniques best suited for your particular condition, becomes an option.
Gum recession results in bone loss around a tooth, root sensitivity to hot and cold foods, and an unsightly appearance of the gum and tooth. When significant gum recession exposes the root surface, which is softer than enamel, it can lead to root caries and root gouging.
Gum Grafting
A gum or gingival graft is designed to solve these problems. In treating gum recession, we have multiple options to regenerate the lost tissue. One option is harvesting a thin piece of tissue from the roof of the mouth and transplanting it to the recession defect. Another option is using donor tissue or synthetic tissue instead of the patient’s own tissue. There are other options that our surgeons can discuss on a case-by-case basis. A thorough examination is necessary to provide treatment options that are tailored to each individual patient.
The gingival graft procedure is highly predictable and results in a stable healthy band of attached gum tissue around the tooth, which preserves the underlying bone and helps retain the tooth.
Frenectomy
A frenum is a naturally occurring muscle attachment, normally seen between the front teeth (either upper or lower). It connects the inner aspect of the lip with the gum. A lack of attached gingiva, in conjunction with a high (closer to the biting surface) frenum attachment, which exaggerates the pull on the gum margin, can result in recession. Additionally, an excessively large frenum can prevent the teeth from coming together resulting in a gap between the front teeth. If pulling is seen or the frenum is too large to allow the teeth to come together, the frenum is surgically released from the gum with a frenectomy. A frenectomy is simply the surgical removal of a frenum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Osseous, or Periodontal Surgery?
Osseous surgery is a procedure that provides access to clean pockets that are too deep to reach with scaling and root planing, known as a “deep cleaning”. The gum tissue is gently reflected so that the roots of the teeth can be seen. Calculus, or bacteria that has hardened to the root surface, is a brown color under the gum tissue. It attaches to the white root surface and can be visualized and thoroughly cleaned with this procedure. Osseous surgery also gives us access to add a bone graft material to regenerate the lost bone around the teeth.
What is Bone Grafting?
The bone graft that we use is a donor or cadaver bone graft. It is real bone that has been sterilized and processed so that all of the cellular components are removed. There is no immune reaction to the bone graft. We draw blood from the patient prior to beginning the procedure to concentrate the healing cells and growth factors using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF). The patient’s own growth factor concentrate is mixed with the sterilized bone graft particles to make a bone putty. This accelerates the healing and makes the bone graft easy to work with and to shape to the defects around the teeth.
What is a Dental Implant?
An implant is a titanium post that replaces the root of the tooth. Implant dentistry involves teamwork between your restorative dentist and your periodontist. First, the implant is placed in the bone by your periodontist. Once the implant has healed, your general dentist creates a tooth that screws into the implant. An implant provides a fixed (non-removeable) option to restore a missing tooth without compromising the adjacent teeth. It is a single-tooth solution to a single-tooth problem.
What is Crown Lengthening?
When decay or a fracture extends below the gum line, crown lengthening is indicated to allow your restorative dentist access to the lesion. Crown lengthening removes gum and bone tissue to expose additional healthy tooth structure. It makes the tooth longer so that there is more tooth structure to work with and to retain the crown. Without crown lengthening, the crown margin may be located too deep under the gum tissue for proper cement isolation and access to remove all decay. Crown lengthening improves retention of the restoration and keeps the crown from falling off over time. Crown lengthening can also be done for esthetic reasons to lengthen anterior teeth and enhance gingival symmetry.