A Gum Recession Dentist Can Save Your Teeth

A gum recession dentist can treat patients of any age who are suffering from gum disease and gum recession. Gum recession is not something that just impacts elderly patients. It can impact adults of all ages who for one reason or another suffer from gum disease and have not been able to treat it.

Do I have gum disease?

The first question the patient should be asking is whether or not they have gum disease. Anyone who has gum disease needs to make it a priority to visit a dentist for treatment. If treatment is given soon enough, gum recession may be avoided. Common signs of gum disease are:

• Inflamed and irritated gums
• Bleeding gums
• Gums that appear to be swollen

How is gum disease treated?

Initially, a dentist can conduct a deep cleaning to remove plaque and tartar that has built up on the portion of the teeth that is underneath the gum. This cannot be removed with cleaning at home or with a standard office cleaning. Some patients may need to visit multiple times for the deep cleaning to be completed since it could be necessary to clean the gums in quadrants, rather than doing everything at one time. Also, antibiotics may be administered.

How is gum recession treated?

If gum disease is not treated before recession occurs, it will be necessary to visit a gum recession dentist for treatment. Gum recession is when the gums begin to pull away from the tooth structure and more of the tooth is exposed. Patients with this problem typically notice that their teeth suddenly appear to be much longer than they used to be. It is not that the teeth are growing. Instead, it is more of the teeth become visible due to the position of the gums. With gum recession, pockets can also be created in the gum tissue.

To treat this, a gum recession dentist will need to first deep clean the teeth to remove the plaque and tartar that is irritating the gums in the first place. Antibiotics are also going to be given. After that, a dentist will need to restore the gums. This can typically be done with a gum graft procedure. This is where additional gum tissue is sutured to the tissue that remains so that the gums can be re-secured around the teeth. This procedure is incredibly effective for restoring the gums and protecting teeth. Additionally, some laser procedures may also be implemented.

Why is it necessary to treat gum recession?

As gums continue to recede, more of the tooth structure will be exposed and the roots will become exposed as well. This can be painful and it can also lead to long-term tooth loss. In fact, the majority of adult tooth loss is correlated with gum disease, meaning that anyone with severe gum disease is going to be at a greater risk for tooth loss and more likely to need dentures or another dental prosthetic as they age. Receiving necessary treatment can help to prevent this.

Visit a gum recession dentist today

Not all dentists treat receding gums. We do and we will be happy to assist you and do our part to restore your oral health.