Receding gums refers to a dental condition where the gums pull away from the teeth, thus exposing the part of the tooth that is not protected by the enamel. Dentin houses all the nerve endings of a tooth and this is what enables us to sense hot or cold substances. When this part is exposed, the teeth appear yellow because dentin is yellow in color. This has the effect of making the teeth look discolored. How can you fix receding gums through cosmetic dentistry? Read on to find out more about this condition.
Causes Of Receding Gums
There are many causes of receding gums. Of the more common causes is periodontal disease which is caused by poor dental hygiene among other reasons. Receding gums can also be due to genetic factors and a bad diet. Another surprisingly common reason for gums to recede is the aggressive brushing of teeth. Rather than improve dental health, aggressive teeth brushing can damage the gum tissue and lead to receding of the gum line. Regardless of the reasons, not treating the problem can have serious consequences. For example, dentin is not as hard as enamel. When it is exposed by receding gums, it becomes easier for various elements to corrode the tooth and cause gum diseases, tooth cavities and much more.
Can The Problem Be Fixed?
The good news is that receding gums can indeed be fixed. Depending on the magnitude of the problem, there are various approaches that dentists use to fix receding gums. If the problem is not very advanced, a common approach that dentists use is gum veneers. This function in the same way as dentures and can either be removable or not. They serve to mask the receding gums and are custom made to fit the patient’s mouth. They can be removed and cleaned although there are less common varieties that are permanently fixed.
Serious Cases Of Gum Recession
When a patient has a more serious case of gum recession, the dentist may opt for other approaches. In such serious cases, there will typically be other underlying issues that need to be treated first. For example, if there is a bacterial build-up, the dentist may opt to do a deep clean in order to remove the bacteria and give the area time to heal. Medication such as antibiotics may be used to kill off any remaining bacteria in the gums and teeth. Sometimes, simply treating the infection can help restore the gumline back to where it was. If not, there are surgical options such as open flap scaling and root planing. In the former, the gumline is folded back to give the doctor the opportunity to clean out underlying bacteria. The ‘flap’ is then restored back to allow healing to proceed.
The advantage of these procedures is that they not only fix the gumline problem but they also help to stop the loss of bone mass in the jaw. This restores your smile and makes your teeth much healthier. Dr. Alex Rubinov is an experienced dental practitioner in New York. The practice offers a range of services including teeth whitening, smile makeovers, cosmetic dentistry, and orthodontics, to name but a few. Contact the team at (718) 253-0800 for an appointment.