Can You Fix Receding Gums?

Gum recession can make smiling uncomfortable. You may feel that your teeth look too exposed. However, fixing this condition is about more than just getting your beautiful smile back.

Gum tissue pulling away from the tooth creates the perfect environment for bacteria and decay. What's more, your exposed tooth can become more sensitive. Common causes of disappearing gums include bacterial infections (periodontitis), aggressive brushing, plaque overload, and tobacco use. Even people who grind their teeth can be at risk of gum loss because the pressure from grinding can eat away at the bone supporting gum tissue.

The good news is that we now have a treatment called soft tissue grafting to correct a fading gumline. Learn how gum grafting from Steven I. Cooper, DMD can protect your smile, your comfort, and your oral health.

What Is Tissue Grafting for Gums?

Grafting is a popular periodontal procedure that can restore tissue to your gumline. You're a potential candidate if your gums are thinning or receding. We can complete grafts a few different ways based on your needs. It's common to take tissue from another part of your mouth that isn't affected and move it to the receding area. However, patients with more extreme cases may benefit instead from other grafting materials.

During a grafting procedure, new tissue is added to areas with sparse or receding gums. The procedure is completely customized to give you a full, healthy-looking gumline based on your unique oral profile.

When Is a Gum Grafting Procedure Recommended?

You may already suspect that you're a candidate for a gum procedure if you're unhappy with your smile. Have your teeth become "longer" or more visible over time? Grafting is an option you should definitely discuss with your dentist. You may also be told that this procedure could benefit you if you're experiencing the following:

Escalating tooth sensitivity near your gumline when you brush, floss, eat, or drink
Noticeably thinning or tender gum tissue
Exposed tooth roots
An uneven gumline

One of the main motivations for getting this procedure is improving the look of your smile. However, the truth is that your oral health is at risk once your gums begin to recede substantially. A tooth surrounded by compromised gums could affect that tooth's health and stability. Yes, that means eventual tooth loss if the gums aren't restored. Plus, people who experience tooth loss from disappearing gums can't actually repair the issue using dental implants because you need stable, supportive gum tissue to host an implant successfully.

Noticing that your gums are getting thinner is certainly alarming for most people. However, the problem doesn't happen overnight. Your dentist should be able to give you an early warning if it looks like your gums are changing based on what they're seeing at your routine cleanings and checkups.

What Can a Gum Graft Actually Fix?

Gum recession treatment is designed to restore fading gums for a better smile and healthier teeth. Your treatment for receding gums will be 100% customized based on your needs. Here are some of the goals of treatment:

Reinforcing thin gum tissue to prevent further exposure and decay
Reducing pain and sensitivity caused by bare tooth roots
Covering uncovered tooth roots to ensure your tooth can remain healthy and intact
Making your gumline more attractive
Providing a healthy environment for your teeth or dental implants

What Should I Expect When Getting My Gums Grafted?

Gum graft surgery is considered a moderately invasive procedure. If you're using your own tissue, your dentist will make small incisions to extract tissue from the roof of your mouth. You will be awake during the procedure. Local anesthesia is used to numb your mouth for a comfortable experience.

Recovery generally takes one to two weeks. However, your gums won't be fully healed until about four to six weeks out. Common side effects after grafting include soreness, tenderness, swelling, and bleeding. You should expect your stitches to be removed after two weeks.

Your dental team will provide you with detailed instructions for managing discomfort and keeping incision and surgical sites clean. One of the most important keys to healing is eating a diet of soft foods immediately after surgery. This includes things like yogurt, ice cream, and scrambled eggs. You'll also be told to avoid hot foods, straws, and any tobacco products. Smoking following a grafting procedure dramatically increases your risk for treatment failure.

Don't Neglect Your Gums: Discover If a Graft Could Preserve Your Smile

Don't ignore gums that are changing. Disappearing gums put your smile at risk for things like decay, infection, and tooth loss. Plus, it's never fun to live with increased tooth tenderness and sensitivity as your gums recede.

Our office is here to help you save your gums. It's easy to book a consultation to learn more. Contact us today to talk about tissue grafting with a friendly, local dental team in Great Neck.