Gum recession treatment
There are two types of gum tissue. The first is pink, thick, firm, and non-mobile. This type is usually found adjacent to the teeth and makes tooth brushing much more comfortable. The second type of tissue is typically red and mobile, attaching the cheek and lips to the above-mentioned thick tissue. Sometimes, individuals either lose the thick gum tissue, or the supposedly thick tissue is actually very thin. This can happen for various reasons. If this occurs, tooth brushing becomes uncomfortable, and the thin gums are likely to recede further. In such cases, we perform gum grafts to improve tissue thickness, which enhances comfort during brushing and improves overall gum health. Additionally, certain orthodontic tooth movements can lead to tissue thinning and potentially cause gum recession. As a result, orthodontists often refer their patients to us to assess the need for gum grafting, either before or after orthodontic treatment.
Although gum grafting in these cases does not primarily aim at root coverage, sometimes we achieve partial or complete root coverage during the procedure as well.
Does gum maintenance hurt?
Periodontal maintenance isn’t usually painful. Some patients may experience mild discomfort during the cleaning process. Your dental hygienist can use numbing agents or adjust the cleaning technique to make you are more comfortable.
How often do I need periodontal maintenance?
Periodontal maintenance appointment frequency is different from one to one and depends on many factors, including your susceptibility to gum disease (periodontal disease), risk factors for gum disease progression, like smoking and diabetes, and your ability to perform good oral hygiene at home. The frequency of Periodontal maintenance appointments can vary between being provided every 3 months to being provided every 9 months, depending on the above-mentioned factors. At these appointments the gum health will be carefully checked to ensure that everything is ok and plaque and calculus that is difficult to remove daily at home will be removed from above and below the gum line.
Will I ever have healthy gums again?
Gum disease is incurable but manageable with the appropriate treatment. In concept, it is very similar to people who have high blood pressure or diabetes, where they have to take the medications regularly to stay on top of their health problem. With gum disease, we don’t have medications to control it, hence, regular periodontal maintenance is crucial to keep the gums as healthy as possible and prevent further periodontal disease progression.
Can I perform periodontal maintenance at home?
Daily home care, including good oral hygiene and some lifestyle changes, is crucial to keeping your gums healthy after periodontal treatment. These oral hygiene habits aim to disrupt the bacteria, allowing the gums to stay healthy around the teeth. Proper brushing and flossing should be part of these habits. However, some plaque and tartar (calculus) will always reform, and they are difficult to remove. Therefore, regular periodontal maintenance visits are essential to keep your gums healthy in the long term.
Is periodontal maintenance worth it?
In short yes. Periodontal maintenance aims at keeping the gum tissues healthy and prevents the progression of gum disease. By undergoing regular periodontal maintenance, you are keeping your gums and teeth in a very healthy shape and reducing the risk of gum disease progression. Untreated periodontal disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults.
