Gum Grafting in Burlington, MA
The sure signs of receding gums are teeth looking longer with sensitivities to hot and cold foods and drinks. Gum grafting is the treatment for receding gums to prevent further loss of gum tissue.
The doctors and the oral healthcare professionals at Center for Adult Dental Care, located near you in Burlington, want to educate their patients, current and new, on the treatment, the benefit, and the prevention of the gum grafting procedure.
The Causes of Gum Recession
A common cause of receding gums is periodontal disease due to inadequate oral healthcare. There are other contributing causes like genetics, hormonal changes and diabetes. Smokers are four times more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers.
Treatment for Receding Gums
If gum recession is too extensive for professional cleaning, then scaling and root planing are the first treatments to prevent further recession. Scaling, root planing and flap surgery are more aggressive techniques in professional cleaning. If these aggressive techniques prove inadequate, then gum graft surgery is the final step. Grafting, the most invasive of the procedures, will heal the affected areas and will help prevent further tissue loss and infection.
Types of Gum Grafts
There are three types of grafting procedures, all of which are discussed below.
- Connective Tissue – this is the most common of the procedures. The tissue is taken from the roof of the patient’s mouth and stitched over the exposed root or the affected area.
- Gingival Grafts – this procedure is similar to the connective tissue graft, but the tissue is taken from the patient’s palate.
- Pedicle Grafts – this procedure uses tissue adjacent to the affected tooth or area.
Tissues used for any of the above procedures may also be donated, medically-processed tissue or synthetic when there is not ample tissue in the patient’s mouth.
Benefits of Gum Grafting
Gum grafting not only protects the tooth’s root from exposure and eliminates the hot/cold sensitivity, but it prevents further recession and bone loss. Grafting will result in an even gumline for a confident smile.
Prevention with Consistent and Adequate Oral Healthcare
The prevention of periodontal disease is diligence in maintaining dental check-ups and consistent oral care at home. Usually, dental hygienist is the first to notice receding gums. The professional cleaning performed during a regular check-up will remove the plaque and tartar leading to gum disease and will prevent further damage.
Gum disease may progress faster through teeth grinding and misaligned teeth. Mouthguards and straightening options can be recommended by, and discussed with, your dentist.
The first symptoms of periodontal disease are gums that are red, swollen and bleed easily, accompanied by chronic bad breath.
If you are experiencing any of the first symptoms mentioned above, you may be a candidate for gum grafting and an exam and consultation are in order. Please contact the doctors and the oral healthcare professionals at the Center for Adult Dental Care, located in Burlington, where new patients are always welcome.
Center for Adult Dental Care is trusted and highly recommended in gum grafting procedures, as well as other treatments and procedures in corrective and restorative dentistry.
