Gingiva or the gums are a part of your oral soft tissue which covers your jawbone and surrounds your teeth in a collar-like fashion. Gingiva firmly adheres to the tooth and the jawbone below it. Healthy gingiva is pink, or coral in color, dense, and supplied by a complex of blood vessels and nerves. Any trauma, injury, or infection of the gingiva or the gums can lead to various dental issues. This article will focus on one such dental problem that is gum recession.
Gum recession is an abnormal condition in which the margin of the gums that surround each tooth structure wears off or gets pulled down. This pulling down of the gum margin exposes the surface of the teeth to the oral environment, which can lead to teeth sensitivity. Each tooth has a gum surrounding it, so where gum recession occurs, pockets or gaps are formed between the gum line and the tooth. This gap also becomes an easy and accessible spot for bacteria-laden plaque accumulation. Gum recession can involve a single tooth, multiple teeth, or even the entire dentition. Untreated gum recession becomes a breeding ground for more extensive oral infection; soon, the bacteria will start damaging the tissues and bone surrounding the tooth. Eventually, the teeth will loosen, and it will lead to tooth loss. To prevent such a situation from manifesting, it is vital to visit a periodontist near you in Wilmington. A board-certified periodontist like Dr. Sanz with his team of impeccable dental professionals is here to help you take care of your gums and make sure that your precious pearly whites last a long time.
Receding gum is a common dental problem in Wilmington. However, many patients coming to our dental clinic, Wilmington Periodontics and Implants, are unaware that they have gum recession. This can be attributed to the fact that gum recession is a slow process, and many might not recognize it initially, and by the time they do, it becomes too late.
Consult a periodontist near you to determine the cause of your receding gums. A proper diagnosis makes way from effective treatment. Contact us at our dental office, Wilmington Periodontics, and Implants for more.
Usually, the first symptom of gum recession is teeth sensitivity as the roots of the teeth become exposed to the oral environment. You may develop sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages. The following symptom to look after is the tooth’s appearance; the affected teeth appear longer as the gums recede. The gums appear swollen, red instead of pink or coral, and gums bleed easily. You may also develop bad breath and foul taste along with loose teeth.
If you happen to notice any of the symptoms, it would be wise to consult a board-certified and skilled periodontist in Wilmington as soon as possible. Delaying or ignoring gum recession can lead to loss of all teeth and all the complications that arise because of it. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Sanz at Wilmington Periodontics and Implants to ensure proper treatment of receding gums.
If your gum recession is mild, Dr. Sanz at Wilmington will treat it with the help of deep scaling (cleaning) and polishing of the tooth. Once the offending agent has been removed, the gums will heal and return to their intended position. In some situations, the exposed root surfaces will have to be carefully debrided and smoothened out to ensure proper gingival healing. Your periodontist may also prescribe antibiotics and antiseptic mouthwash in Wilmington to supplement the healing process.
However, if the recession is severe and the defect is significantly large, periodontal surgery will have to be performed to save your precious pearly whites. In some cases where the pockets are too deep, flap surgery is done to access the base, and then the roots of the teeth are cleaned and planned. Later, the gum flap is adequately secured over the tooth root. This eliminated the pockets.
When there is too much bone destruction, bone grafts and soft tissue grafts may have to be used to attain adequate results. Please schedule an appointment with us at Wilmington Periodontics and Implants today to resolve your gum-related dental problems.
There is a solution for receding gums.
