My Blog
Posts for tag: gum recession

Your gums not only help hold your teeth securely in place, they also help protect them. They're also part of your smile — when healthy and proportionally sized, they provide a beautiful frame for your teeth.
But if they become weakened by periodontal (gum) disease, they can detach and begin to shrink back or recede from the teeth. Not only will your smile be less attractive, but you could eventually lose teeth and some of the underlying bone.
Treating gum recession begins with treating the gum disease that caused it. The primary goal is to remove the source of the disease, a thin film of food particles and bacteria called dental plaque, from all tooth and gum surfaces. This may take several sessions, but eventually the infected gums should begin showing signs of health.
If the recession has been severe, however, we may have to assist their healing by grafting donor tissue to the recession site. Not only does this provide cover for exposed tooth surfaces, it also provides a “scaffold” for new tissue growth to build upon.
There are two basic surgical approaches to gum tissue grafting. One is called free gingival grafting in which we first completely remove a thin layer of surface skin from the mouth palate or a similar site with tissue similar to the gums. We then attach the removed skin to the recession site where it and the donor site will usually heal in a predictable manner.
The other approach is called connective tissue grafting and is often necessary when there's extensive root exposure. The tissue is usually taken from below the surface of the patient's own palate and then attached to the recession site where it's covered by the surrounding adjacent tissue. Called a pedicle or flap, this covering of tissue provides a blood supply that will continue to nourish the graft.
Both of these techniques, but especially the latter, require extensive training and micro-surgical experience. The end result is nothing less than stunning — the tissues further rejuvenate and re-attach to the teeth. The teeth regain their protection and health — and you'll regain your beautiful smile.
If you would like more information on treating gum recession, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Periodontal Plastic Surgery.”

If you've suddenly noticed your smile looking more “toothy,” you may have a problem with your gums. They may have lost their normal attachment to your tooth and begun to shrink back — or recede.
Millions of people have some form of gum recession. The most common cause is periodontal (gum) disease, but it's not the only one. You may be more susceptible to gum recession because of heredity — you have thin gum tissues passed down to you from your parents. You may also be brushing too hard and too often and have damaged your gums.
Healthy gums play an important role in dental health. The crown, the tooth's visible part, is covered with a hard, protective shell called enamel. As the enamel ends near where the root begins, the gums take over, forming a tight band around the tooth to protect the roots from bacteria and acid.
Receding gums expose these areas of the tooth meant to be covered. This can lead to another tell-tale sign — tooth sensitivity. You begin to notice pain and discomfort while you consume hot or cold foods. And because it leaves your teeth and gums looking much less attractive, it can affect your confidence to smile.
Fortunately, though, we can help restore receded gums. If you have gum disease, it's imperative we treat it as early as possible. We do this by removing plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles that triggers the infection. We use special techniques and hand instruments to remove plaque and calculus (hardened plaque deposits) from all tooth surfaces including along the roots.
Gum disease treatment can help stop and even reverse gum recession. In some cases, though, the recession may have advanced too far. If so, we may need to consider surgically grafting donor tissue to the recessed areas. Depending on the site and extent of recession, this can be a very involved procedure requiring microscopic techniques.
The best approach, though, is to take care of your gums now. Daily brushing and flossing removes harmful plaque; regular dental visits take cleaning a step further and also give us an opportunity to detect disease early. By looking out for your gums now you might be able to avoid gum recession in the future.
If you would like more information on diagnosing and treating gum recession, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.
Our Blog
Archive:
- 2018
- March (5)
- Charlize Theron Back in Action After Dental Surgery
- Why the Bottled Variety Might not be Your Best Choice for Clean Drinking Water
- 4 Things You Should be Doing Now for Your Baby's Long-Term Dental Health
- Instill Good Dental Habits in Your Child as Early as Possible
- Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
- 2017
- September (6)
- Inflammation is a Key Element in Both Oral and Systemic Diseases
- FAQs About Pediatric Dentistry
- Attention to Detail Crucial to a Beautiful Smile Supported by Dental Implants
- Practice Proactive Prevention to Enhance Your Child's Dental Development
- Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
- Stop Gum Disease Before it Threatens Your Dental Implant
- May (5)
- Clean Your Implants Just Like you Clean Your Natural Teeth
- Instill in Your Child the Daily Habit of Brushing and Flossing
- Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
- Tips on Encouraging Healthy Snacking While Your Child's at School
- Protect Your Child's Long-Term Dental Health with Regular Office Visits
- April (5)
- Gum Disease Could Affect More than Your Teeth and Gums
- Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
- Don't Let Sleep Apnea Ruin Your Sleep - or Your Health
- Be Alert to the Unintended Consequences of Cancer Treatment to Oral Health
- Conscious Sedation can Help Ease Your Child's Dental Visit Anxiety
- 2016
- March (9)
- Good Oral Hygiene Just as Important for Implants as for Natural Teeth
- Surgically Accessing Sinuses can Help Grow New Bone for Implants
- Get Relief from Cracked Corners of the Mouth
- Treating Gum Abscesses and the Underlying Gum Disease
- Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
- Although a Global Problem, Tooth Decay can be Prevented
- 3 Things to do to Prepare for Dental Emergencies While Traveling Abroad
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
- February (7)
- Advancing Gum Disease Requires Thorough Treatment to Control it
- Persistent Jaw Pain After an Injury Needs Immediate Attention
- Is There a Link Between Gum Disease and Cardiovascular Health?
- Four Tips for Preventing Premature Loss of Baby Teeth From Tooth Decay
- The Time Interval to Replant a Knocked Out Tooth Can Affect its Longevity
- The Major Benefits of Early Childhood Dental Visits
- Can an App Help You Brush Your Teeth?
- 2015
- December (5)
- Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
- Implant-Based Removable Dentures a Good Choice for Patients with Extensive Bone Loss
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- A Smile Makeover is a Transforming Experience
- Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
- June (5)
- Advancing Gum Disease Requires Your Dentist's Intervention
- Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
- Life-like Dental Porcelain Helps Restore Smiles Marred by Unattractive Teeth
- 'Prepless' Veneers can Transform Your Smile Without Altering Your Teeth
- What you can Expect if You're Undergoing Implant Surgery
- May (7)
- Take Positive Action with Your Child's Thumb-Sucking Habit
- America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
- Dental Implants and Smoking - Cause for Concern?
- Take Steps to Reduce Mouth Acid and Avoid Dental Erosion
- Although Rare, Allergic Reactions to the Metal in Implants Could be a Concern
- While Usually Benign, Lichen Planus Lesions Should Still be Examined
- A Toothless Tiger?
- April (6)
- Tooth Bleaching: Test Your Knowledge
- Mouthguards Reduce Risk of Concussion as well as Dental Injuries
- An Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea may be the Right Option for You
- TV's Nate Berkus Discusses Dental Sealants, Fluoride Treatments and Flossing
- Choosing Natural Tooth-Colored Fillings Over Silver
- Turn Back the Clock with Whiter Teeth
- March (8)
- A Future So Bright — Teeth Whitening Facts
- Follow in Vanna White's Footsteps and Replace That Missing Back Tooth
- Things you Should Know about Oral Cancer
- Chronic Biting Habits Can Lead to Loose Teeth
- Managing Gum Disease Could Benefit Other Conditions You May Have
- George Washington's False Teeth
- Dental Offices Uphold the Highest Standards for Infection Control
- Eating Disorders Can Cause Problems With the Teeth and Mouth
- February (8)
- Your Gum Tissue 'Biotype' Could Determine How Gum Disease Affects You
- Spice Up Your Teeth
- Bonding with Composite Resins Ideal for Restoring Chipped Teeth
- There's a Battle Going On - And It's In Your Mouth
- Reduce Your Risk of Oral Cancer With a Healthy Whole Food Diet
- The Secrets Behind Vanna White's Smile
- Pay Attention to Gum Disease Warning Signs for an Early Diagnosis
- Test Your Knowledge: A Quiz on Dental Erosion
- 2014
- September (5)
- Saving a Baby Tooth is the Best Option for Permanent Tooth Development
- Removing Bacterial Plaque is Critical to Halting Advancing Gum Disease
- Be Extra Vigilant for Signs of Gum Disease During Pregnancy
- Kristin Cavallari's "Spaghetti Catcher" - First Step To A Winning Smile
- Your Dentist May Have the Solution to Your Snoring and Sleep Apnea
- April (5)
- Advances in Clear Aligners Make Them a Viable Choice for More Teens
- Oral Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention
- Considering Bone and Gums Critical to Achieving a Better Smile With Implants
- FAQs About Calming Your Fears With Oral Sedation Dentistry
- Implant Overdentures: a Marriage of Options for Lower Jaw Tooth Replacement
- 2013
- 2012
Tags
- fluoride (4)
- celebrity smiles (57)
- floss (2)
- sealants (1)
- pediatric dentistry (26)
- oral hygiene (27)
- oral health (67)
- common symptoms (4)
- periodontal (gum) disease (4)
- bleeding gums (3)
- periodontal disease (13)
- gum disease (35)
- sensitive teeth (4)
- root canal (4)
- tooth decay (18)
- cosmetic dentistry (27)
- wedding day smiles (2)
- smile makeover (9)
- chewing gum (1)
- clear orthodontic aligners (3)
- orthodontics (6)
- invisalign (2)
- dental injuries (5)
- dental emergencies (2)
- sports dentistry (3)
- dental implants (34)
- bonding (4)
- chipped tooth (4)
- dental hygienist (1)
- dental hygiene (3)
- thumb sucking (3)
- mouthguards (4)
- wisdom teeth (5)
- teeth whitening (14)
- veneers (8)
- snoring and sleep apnea (2)
- missing tooth (2)
- replacing teeth (1)
- dental implant (2)
- crowns (7)
- bridgework (1)
- bone grafting (4)
- endodontics (1)
- tooth pain (2)
- dental emergency (3)
- dental injury (5)
- mouthguard (2)
- eating disorder (1)
- pregnancy (2)
- bad breath (4)
- toothpaste (2)
- oral cancer (11)
- bruxism (1)
- teething (4)
- porcelain veneers (3)
- gum abscess (1)
- bleaching (1)
- discolored teeth (1)
- stained teeth (1)
- brushing (1)
- flossing (1)
- missing teeth (2)
- diabetes (2)
- loose teeth (5)
- tooth colored fillings (1)
- dental fillings (1)
- toothache (2)
- dental exam (2)
- artificial sweeteners (2)
- overdentures (1)
- sedation dentistry (3)
- oral sedation (1)
- braces (5)
- nutrition (6)
- prepless veneers (1)
- dentures (5)
- orthodontic treatment (5)
- xylitol (1)
- snoring (4)
- sleep apnea (4)
- crown (1)
- saliva (1)
- inflammation (1)
- gingivitis (1)
- bacteria (1)
- baby teeth (3)
- dental erosion (1)
- chipped teeth (2)
- eating disorders (1)
- bridge (1)
- fillings (3)
- tooth bleaching (1)
- lichen planus (1)
- smoking (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- root planing (1)
- cancer (2)
- dry mouth (2)
- pediatric care (1)
- sinus surgery (2)
- athletic mouthguards (2)
- jaw pain (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- chewing tobacco (1)
- teeth grinding (3)
- cracked tooth (1)
- salvia (1)
- root canal treatment (2)
- oral appliance (1)
- night guard (1)
- geographic tongue (1)
- clear aligners (1)
- tmj disorders (1)
- gum recession (2)
- retainers (1)
- sugar (1)
- halloween (1)
- adult braces (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- topical fluoride (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- age one dental visit (1)
- oral heath (1)