5 reasons to treat receding gums (and how we do it)

You can’t have healthy teeth without healthy gums. So, tissue graft procedures (bone, gums) are important in your smile’s overall health and appearance. These treatments combat the underlying cause of gum recession, the gums receding or pulling away from the teeth. Pasadena Periodontics in Pasadena, California, is proud to serve our corner of Los Angeles County, California, and beyond with considerable specialty expertise and onsite capabilities to resolve even the most complex “cases.” Below, we are happy to provide more details on five reasons for treating receding gums and how we do it.

No. 1: For the health of your teeth

Do not ignore the symptoms of gum recession, notably a “long in the tooth” appearance to your smile. Your smile may look overly toothy due to the exposure of more of the white crown part of each tooth. This happens as the gums retreat. There are additional complications, however, that transcend cosmetics. As the root surfaces of the teeth are exposed (when the gums are no longer available to cover them), these teeth are now more vulnerable to decay, and wear and tear. They don’t have any protection from the soft tissues. You may notice considerable sensitivity, especially when consuming cold or sweet beverages and treats, and the teeth may become so damaged and worn that they break.

No. 2: For the functional appearance of the supportive soft tissues

Gums may become thin due to conditions such as severe periodontal disease. Likewise, some individuals are born with thinner gums than others. When the gums are too thin, they cannot properly support the teeth. Grafting might be appropriate in these cases to prevent the loss of the teeth and supportive bone in the jaw.

No. 3: For the strength and health of the jawbone

Gum disease and the destructive process of gum recession will not go away. It requires identifying the sources of these problems and attacking them promptly and precisely. Otherwise, without treatment, these conditions can result in the deterioration of the supportive soft tissues, teeth, and bone. This is also where bone grafting may come into play.

No. 4: Gingival grafting to the rescue

As specialists, Pasadena Periodontics has the knowledge, experience, and technologies to offer minimally invasive alternatives to traditional techniques to graft or transfer tissue to deteriorated areas, thereby rebuilding tissues in these spots. Our techniques are so “light-touch” that we can perform them safely and comfortably with only local anesthetic. For many patients, transferring tissue from the palate or roof of the mouth and then applying it to the areas that could use it the most is more than adequate to support reattachment and healing. Additionally, our specialists are trained in the Pinhole® Surgical Technique, which involves loosening up the gums through tiny, pinhole-sized openings and repositioning them to cover up the exposed and vulnerable tooth roots.

No. 5: Bone grafting to the rescue

Specialty periodontics centers like ours also provide “full-service” grafting solutions. These include grafting to address advanced complications of conditions like gum disease. For patients who have lost bone in their jaws, we may use new, cutting-edge materials to augment tissue in these deteriorated areas. These tissues not only replace what was lost but also regenerate new bone! To learn more about your options, contact our team in Pasadena, CA, today at (626) 796-5386.

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