Your gums frame your teeth, and also provide a strong foundation for your smile. Healthy gums are just as important as healthy teeth. With proper care and routine dental visits, you can enjoy optimal gum health for years to come. If your gum tissue is thin or pulling away from the teeth, it can expose the teeth roots and compromise your overall oral health.
For most patients, anxiety ensues if a dentist recommends a gum graft. It certainly doesn’t sound like much fun. To be honest, tissue grafts have not earned a favorable reputation in years past. However, with advances in technology and techniques, receiving a gum graft is easier now than ever before. Here, we will explore gum grafting, and discuss when it is necessary, what type of grafts are available, and how the procedure is performed.
About Gum Recession
Gum recession is quite common and can be caused by a couple of different reasons as you can read from this article – How to treat gum disease. First and foremost, there is an undeniable genetic factor. Chances are, if you have an immediate family member who has recession, you have it too. This type of recession can worsen gradually over time, almost going unnoticed. That is why routine dental examinations are so important. If your dentist detects recession early on, the treatment required to repair it will be less invasive. Trauma can also cause gum recession. For example, if you are hit in the mouth, the gum tissue may tear or become damaged. Finally, recession can be a byproduct of periodontal disease. When periodontitis advances, the gums have a tendency to pull away from the teeth. This is because the underlying bone has been damaged by infection. The gums follow the bone level. Therefore, if there is bone loss, recession will be present.
When is a Gum Graft Necessary?
In many cases, dental issues can trigger a domino effect. Mild recession may cause tooth sensitivity and some slight discomfort, due to the exposed roots. However, if the recession continues to worsen, the exposed teeth roots can have a negative impact on the underlying jawbone. When your recession begins to affect other aspects of your oral health, it is time to consider gum grafting.