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The Best Treatment for Receding Gums

Gums going into hiding? If you notice your gum line on a retreat, and more and more of your teeth being exposed, it’s time to take action. Leaving your tooth roots bare puts them at a heightened risk of decay, and advanced gum recession can put your teeth in danger. Plus, you have to deal with the discomfort of sensitivity and the changing appearance of your smile. But what’s the solution when gum tissue has been lost?

 

There’s a new way to rebuild your gums, and it’s far simpler than a gum graft. The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique allows your dentist to rebuild a receding gum line without the need for grafting or more significant downtime. Keep reading to learn more about whether this treatment might be right for you, as well as how to get gum recession under control.

The Role Healthy Gums Play in Your Smile

While gums don’t usually get the same amount of attention as our teeth, they play a crucial role in allowing our smiles to function properly. Healthy gums support teeth and help keep them firmly connected to the jaws. The soft tissues of the gums surround tooth roots, protecting them and keeping them safe from external stimuli that may cause sensitivity. But irritation or damage to the gums can cause them to pull away, with the gum line lowering and the tooth root becoming exposed. Gum tissue is delicate, and can’t withstand infection or excessive pressure.

 

Receding gums don’t necessarily mean that you have gum disease. But if you do notice it taking hold, it’s a good idea to check in with your dentist. Gum recession is often linked to periodontal disease, but even if you don’t have infected gums, there’s another issue taking hold. The sooner you intervene, the less recession will impact your smile.

 

Typical Reasons for Gum Recession

Gum Recession Treatment Options

Why treat receding gums? Because your mouth is at risk of additional health problems. Your teeth will be more sensitive to hot and cold with their roots exposed. The delicate tooth roots are also more prone to erosion and subsequent decay. The missing gum tissue also alters your smile and makes you seem prematurely aged. Teeth may also feel loose after severe periodontal disease and gum tissue loss.

 

Once, a gum graft was the only way to rebuild gums after tissue loss. At Tompkins Dental, we’re proud to offer a new treatment option that makes gum surgery simpler and more patient-friendly. The Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique allows our dentists to build out gums without incisions or stitches. Tissue doesn’t need to be taken from elsewhere in the mouth, as it does with a gum graft.

 

Here’s how this revolutionary procedure works. Your dentist makes a tiny hole in the gums with a needle. This hole is placed in the healthy area of gums below the gum line. Then, special instruments carefully loosen the gum tissue beneath the hole. This tissue is carefully pulled upwards to cover the exposed area of tooth. The pinhole point of entry heals within a day, and the gum line is on its way back to normal.

 

This procedure is so gentle that patients experience very little downtime. There’s minimal discomfort, swelling or bleeding. When compared to a traditional gum graft, the difference is staggering. The gum line also looks healthier quickly, with patients smiling comfortably right after the procedure.

 

What Patients Love about Pinhole Gum Surgery

Have questions about your gums or your potential for gum surgery? Contact us today!

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