Gums recede for a variety of reasons including:
• Overly aggressive tooth brushing
• Poor dental hygiene
• Periodontal disease
• Genetic predisposition
• Lack of dental care
• Hormonal changes
• Misaligned teeth
• Teeth grinding
• Tobacco use
Once you notice problems with receding gums, it is important to call our office for an appointment as soon as you are able. Early intervention on receding gums by our dentist in Huntington Beach means an easier and less invasive course of treatment for you.
There are several treatments to help and correct receding gums. Generally, the kind of treatment depends on how much recession is present.
If your gums have not excessively receded, there is a good chance that our dentist can help with a deep cleaning. This sort of cleaning is called scaling and root planing. During this procedure, our dentist cleans the plaque and tartar from your gum line. After this cleaning, the dentist will smooth your roots. This part of the procedure keeps bacteria from taking hold at your gum line. In some instances, our dentist may prescribe a course of antibiotics to rid your gum line of every bit of bacteria.
More extreme cases of gum recession that are accompanied by deep pockets of bacteria exposed roots, or bone loss often needs surgical intervention. There are a few different types of surgical treatments for severe gum recession. Two of the most common are:
• Open flap scaling and root planing- In this instance, our dentist folds back the soft tissue covering the problem area and cleans away bacteria, tartar and plaque. The next step is tightly attaching the gum tissue to the tooth.
• Pinhole surgery- This is a newer technique that is easier and less invasive than traditional gum grafting surgeries. Our dentist makes a small hole in the gum and inserts special tiny instruments to pull the gums into their proper place.
If you believe that you have a receding gum line, or if you have signs of periodontal disease, please contact our office. Swift intervention in periodontal disease frequently means less invasive treatment and faster recovery.