Many people notice gum recession from visual inspection when flossing, or when they run their tongue along the interior gum line to find that the root of a tooth is beginning to jut out.
When recession of the gingiva occurs, your oral cavity exhibits a loss of natural defense against both bacterial penetration and trauma. When the recession is minor (one or two teeth), it means that some healthy gingiva likely remains and will continue to protect the tooth with proper oral hygiene and regular dental checkups.
Gum Graft – Gum Recession
However, when gum recession becomes problematic, and reaches the mucous membrane that lining the inside of the mouth, reconstruction is necessary. Thankfully, gum grafting is an effective solution.
Can you live without treatment for problematic gum recession? Not if quality of life is important to you. Advanced gum recession often results in root sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages. In addition, it makes for a pretty unsightly appearance of the gum and tooth. Inconveniences and aesthetic concerns aside, significant gum recession can predispose you to worsening recession and expose the root surface, leading to root caries and root gouging. Simply put, if your gum recession is near or has reached the oral mucous membrane, you need to act now.
The results in the photographs are examples only and do not imply any certainty of the result of a procedure, and all outcomes are subject to the circumstances of the individual patient.
Gingival Graft
A gingival graft is designed to treat gum recession. In this process, a thin piece of tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth, or gently moved over from adjacent areas, to provide a stable band of attached gingiva around the tooth. The gingival graft may be placed in a manner that will cover the exposed portion of the root.
Pinhole Surgical Technique
There is another advanced treatment for gum recession that is available at our Point Grey Vancouver clinic. The Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST) is a complex procedure, and extremely effective as a solution to gum recession.