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Gum recession is one of the most common oral health problems, affecting tens of millions of American adults to varying degrees. Aside from the obvious aesthetic effects that gum recession has on a person’s smile, the condition also places a person’s teeth at risk. Fortunately, advances in restorative dentistry have made it possible to return good oral health to mouths damaged by gum recession, while cosmetic dentistry can help to restore beauty to the smile.

At Advanced Dental Health, gum recession treatments of the most surpassing standard are available to our valued patients. If you are currently suffering from gum recession, we encourage you to visit our practice soon for the treatment you need to restore health and beauty to your smile. If you are not suffering from gum recession, it is equally important that you visit our office twice each year for a thorough examination and professional cleaning to ensure that you maintain the health of your gums for a lifetime. When it comes to gum health, an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure.

Common Causes of Gum Recession

Although your gums are soft, they are highly resilient tissues. Nevertheless, they are vulnerable to disease, especially if they are exposed to a build-up of plaque and tartar for too long a time. The erosion of the gums is just one symptom of poor periodontal health, along with bleeding, swelling, and pain. Gum erosion can occur due to many possible reasons, including:

• Periodontal disease, especially when it advances into its most severe form, periodontitis. The surest way to avoid periodontitis is to have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year, and to undergo a deep cleaning - scaling and root planing - at the earliest signs of gum disease.
• Improper tooth brushing, which usually takes the form of brushing with too much force with a hard-bristled toothbrush.
• Smoking, which can damage all of the tissues of the mouth.
• Loss of bone surrounding the teeth.
• A diet high in acidic foods and liquids such as citrus, tomatoes, energy drinks and soda.
• Bruxism, or a chronic grinding or clenching of the teeth, especially during sleep.
• Pregnancy.

Gum Recession Treatments

At Advanced Dental Health, we offer a full range of treatments for gum recession, including:

• Scaling and root planing: Scaling is a procedure in which tartar is removed from beneath the gum line, while root planing is a procedure in which the surfaces of the root are made smoother so that bacteria cannot “hide” within the tooth and the gums can reattach to the tooth once again.
• Pocket depth reduction surgery: This procedure allows Dr. Holton to remove bacteria from deep beneath the gum line by pulling the gums back from the teeth and then surgically reattaching them.
• Gum grafting: If you have experienced dramatic gum recession, Dr. Holton can harvest soft tissues from elsewhere in the mouth and transplant them to your gums, rebuilding a healthy gum line.
• Dermal Fillers: Dermal fillers can be used to fill in small spaces between your teeth called "black triangles" and help fill in areas of receding tissue.

Learn More about Gum Recession Causes and Treatments

To learn more about gum recession causes and treatments, please contact Advanced Dental Health today.