Gum Grafting Alternatives
Any number of factors could cause gums to recede. The condition could be related to heredity, aging, poor dental hygiene, overly vigorous brushing, periodontal disease, bruxism, trauma, or even abnormal positioning of teeth, just for example.
Regardless of the cause of gum recession, however, you need to address the problem in order to avoid more serious issues. When your gums recede, you are also losing the underlying bone which will expose the roots, potentially leading to tooth sensitivity and decayed roots. Plus, you may also open yourself to infection that can lead to tooth loss and other health concerns. On top of that, gum recession is not terribly attractive.
In other words, immediate diagnosis and treatment is essential. Unfortunately, the most common treatment for this issue is gum grafting. This is an invasive procedure that can be painful and entail a lengthy recovery. The good news is there are less invasive alternatives may be an option for you. Before you start a search for “dental offices near me”, it’s a good idea to understand the holistic treatment options available.
Orthodontics
Most people don’t realize that unevenness, gaps, and overlapping teeth can cause receding gums, along with other oral health issues. Often, this state of affairs acts as the root cause of other issues that cause gums to recede, such as gingivitis or periodontitis due to an inability to brush all surfaces properly.
In such cases, orthodontics may be paired with other therapies (like laser cleaning techniques) to treat the underlying issues causing gum recession. For those who prefer to avoid wearing braces for several months or even a couple of years, Invisalign may be a viable option, especially when paired with Acceledent, which can cut treatment time by as much as 50%.
Periodontal Treatment
One of the most common causes of gum recession is periodontal diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis, by which gums and other tissues become infected and inflamed, causing gums to pull away from the teeth. This is generally the result of a failure to practice proper oral hygiene.
The average dental cleaning will not be enough to treat periodontal disease and help your gums rebound. You’re going to need a deep cleaning to address the problem, as well as ongoing maintenance.
This could begin with cleaning teeth below the gum line to remove tartar and plaque buildup and rinse away pockets of infection. The process might start by flushing the area with an iodine solution to kill and rinse away bacteria.
A dentist may follow this by flushing the mouth with water infused with Ozone, or an energized form of oxygen, to promote healing blood flow to the tissue. Finally, the area may be flushed with distilled water infused with vitamin-rich herbs that promote healing.
Laser treatment may also be necessary to eliminate all pockets of infection, and all treatments will include home care and follow-up appointments. Not all family dentistry is geared toward holistic treatment of periodontal disease, so you’ll want to look for an office that offers these non-invasive options.
Pinhole Surgical Technique
In a typical gum grafting surgery, tissues will be cut and stitched to cover exposed roots. This sometimes includes taking tissue from the palate to graft onto existing gum tissue, or it may involve cutting the gums, stretching them to cover roots, and then sewing them together.
Regardless, the procedure is bound to be painful and require extensive healing time. The Chao Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation technique is far less invasive, painful, and time consuming (in terms of recovery).
In this procedure, a small pinhole is made in the gums so that they can be repositioned to cover exposed roots, as they should. Collagen is then injected into pinholes to ensure that the gums remain as they have been positioned. Results are immediate, discomfort is minimal, and there is little downtime following the procedure.
LANAP Procedure
The LANAP Procedure basically involves the use of a precision laser to eliminate bacterial pockets formed by periodontal disease, allowing gum tissues and even bone to regenerate. This non-invasive procedure is relatively quick, virtually painless, and requires less than 24 hours of recovery time before you can return to normal activities.
Total healing and regeneration of healthy tissue will take longer, but in the meantime you won’t have to deal with the pain and potential problems associated with scalpels and sutures used in traditional gum grafting procedures.
