When your gum tissue pulls back from your teeth to show more of each individual tooth or even the tooth’s roots, it’s called gum recession. This often results in bacterial gum infection, tooth pain or sensitivity, damage to the supporting bones and tissues, and potential tooth loss. If you notice this problem in your mouth, a consultation with our dentists will ensure you get the best receding gums treatment in Surrey BC.
Gum recession is a common dental problem, which often happens so gradually patients don’t even notice it until they have gaps or pockets between the gums and their teeth. Here are some of the methods we might use to treat your condition.
#1: Antibiotics
Antibiotics are prescribed for patients showing signs of infection as a result of the gum recession. These are usually used in conjunction with one of the other methods, but in severe cases our dentists might recommend a course of treatment before any other steps can be taken.
#2: Scaling and Planing
Mild cases of gum recession can be treated by deep cleaning, which is also known as tooth scaling and root planing. During the scaling process, the plaque and tartar that have accumulated on the teeth and below the gum line are removed with special tools. After that, our dentist will smooth out the root area of your tooth to prevent bacteria from becoming attached to it in the future. This entire process may take several consultations to complete, and you might need a local anesthetic for parts of it.
#3: Surgical Flap Procedure
Flap surgery is necessary for patients who have severe gum disease that has damaged the bone supporting their teeth. This procedure is done under local anesthetic, and involves the surgeon peeling back a section of gum to clean the tartar off the roots. This is followed by root planing to achieve a smooth surface, after which the surgeon stitches the gum back into place. This helps to reduce the depth of the pockets, or eliminate them completely. You might feel that surgery is an extreme measure for this problem, but it’s preferable to experiencing tooth loss and the high cost to replace teeth.
#4: Bone Regeneration
In some severe cases, the bone supporting the teeth may have deteriorated as a result of the receding gums. Treatment in these cases requires bone grafting or another procedure to regenerate lost bone and tissue. The dentist folds back the gum tissue and removes the bacteria, and then attaches a material to encourage the natural regrowth of bone and tissue in the area. This could be a membrane, graph tissue, or a tissue-stimulating protein. The gum tissue is then secured over the roots and material, and once it starts to regenerate, it can reverse some of the damage caused by the periodontal disease.
#5: Soft Tissue Graft
A soft tissue graft is another surgical procedure used for receding gums. Treatment in Surrey BC usually takes the form of a connective tissue graft. During the surgery, the dentist removes tissue from elsewhere in the mouth and attaches it to the gums surrounding the exposed roots. This helps to protect the bone underneath the gum until the tissue is able to regrow itself.
Whatever method of receding gums treatment our dentist recommends, it’s best to follow the aftercare instructions carefully to avoid future periodontal infections.
At Nordel Crossing Dental Centre we aim to help you preserve your oral health for life. You should never ignore bleeding gums or any other symptoms of gum recession. For more information on how to treat periodontal diseases or to give your teeth a makeover, please click here to schedule an appointment with us.
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