From your typical dental appointments to dental implants and dental emergencies, there are many reasons you would opt for a dental service. That said, if you find that your gums are receding from the teeth, you might be in need to hop to a dental office right away. Why so? Gum recession is a real problem, and it'll expose the softer, more vulnerable part of your teeth, which can lead to a myriad of problems.
There are many causes of gum recession. The most common cause of the condition would be periodontal diseases, which are due to plaque build-up. In turn, it causes gingivitis, which then leads to periodontitis. Other causes of gum recession would be brushing your teeth with bristles that are too hard or brushing too roughly, damaging the gums and exposing the softer parts of your teeth.
That said, here's what you can expect when treating gum recession:
Gum Tissue Grafting
The primary way to address gum recession would be with gum surgery. Gum tissue grafting would be the surgical procedure you'll more than likely go through to fix a gum recession issue. There are different ways to carry it out, which will be determined after a professional evaluation. The gum graft types include the following:
- Pedicle Graft
- Gingival Graft
- Connective Tissue Graft
Of the above types of grafting, the most common would be connective tissue grafts. It works by taking the tissues on the roof of your mouth and stitching them to the gums that are receding to reduce sensitivity. A gingival graft is quite similar to the connective tissue graft, albeit the goal is to strengthen the gums. Finally, pedicle grafting utilizes the gums around the receding area for the tissue.
Pre-Surgery and Post-Surgery Activity
Before any surgery starts, you'll have a stent made for the site that the tissue will be removed from. That will allow the area to heal without the risk of infection. For example, if you've had the tissue found on the roof of your mouth removed, you'll wear a piece of plastic to protect it while you're eating.
After the operation is over, you'll more than likely still be slightly sedated. Because of this, it is best to have someone to pick you up from the dental clinic to get you home. Once you fully recovered from the sedation, you'll start to feel a burning sensation on the area they grafted the tissue from. While it tends to hurt quite a bit, it heals quite quickly. You can take pain-relief medicines to counteract the pain if it gets too much.
Meanwhile, you should eat only soft foods, so you should have those at the ready. Soft foods can include steamed or boiled vegetables, cheese, yogurts, porridge, soups, and the likes.
Conclusion
A visit to the dental office will help get your gum recession problem fixed. With a professional dentist to carry out the procedure, you'll be able to enjoy healthier gums once more, as well as reduce any side-effects of receded gums, such as sensitivity. That said, the best solution for gum recession is to brush and floss your teeth regularly to remove the plaque build-up, which leads to gum recession.
Are you looking for professional dentists to work with in Ann Arbor or Waterford? We're right here to help you out! Get in touch with us to make your appointment today.