Have you ever heard an older person described as “long in the tooth”? The phrase is less common than it used to be, but its origin is worth knowing: it comes from receding gums. As gum tissue pulls back, more of each tooth shows, and the smile looks longer.
For generations, people assumed gum recession, known clinically as gingival recession, was simply what happened as a person aged. Something inevitable, something to be endured. Modern dentistry knows better. Recession can be arrested, and in many cases repaired, and if the thought of gum treatment makes you nervous, you are exactly the patient this practice was built for.
What causes receding gums
Before looking at how a dentist fixes recession, it helps to know what causes it, because understanding the cause is how you lower your risk of dealing with it down the road. Common causes of gum recession include:
- Using a hard-bristled toothbrush
- Brushing your teeth and gums too hard
- Untreated gum disease
- Poor dental home care
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or menopause
- Use of tobacco products
- A misaligned bite or crooked teeth
- Bruxism, the habit of clenching and grinding your teeth
Notice how many of those are habits rather than fate. At your next visit, ask us which steps would reduce or eliminate your own risk. Our periodontal therapy page describes how we monitor and care for gum health at every checkup.
How gum grafting treats recession
If recession has already set in, there is no need to lose heart. A well-established procedure called gingival grafting can help, and because we practice Fear-Less Dentistry, the conversation about your comfort happens before any work does.
Here is the plain version of the procedure. Your dentist takes a small amount of tissue from your hard palate, the roof of your mouth, and grafts it onto the gum tissue where recession has occurred. In some cases, donor tissue is used instead, so nothing needs to come from your palate at all.
The benefits make the visit worthwhile:
- Grafting strengthens the gum tissue, which stabilizes the teeth it surrounds
- It can protect against further recession
- Covering the exposed root surface minimizes tooth sensitivity
- It reduces that “long in the tooth” look, so you can share your smile with the world instead of hiding it
Grafting is not the only path, either. Some patients are candidates for Chao Pinhole gum rejuvenation, a graft-free way to correct recession that many anxious patients find easier to say yes to.
A healthy smile you do not have to hide
Dr. Balaban has devoted his career to helping patients attain healthy, comfortable smiles, and he wants to help you do the same. A consultation commits you to nothing. We will look at your gums, talk through what is driving the recession, and lay out the steps you and your dental team can take to get a healthy smile and keep it for years to come.
Ready to do something about your receding gums? Request an appointment online or call (317) 575-1995 to schedule a graft treatment consultation.
This article is for general education only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice. For guidance about your own smile, talk with your dentist.