Gum recession is the loss of gum tissue that surrounds the teeth. Due to the progression of gum recession the softer part of the tooth is exposed to elements. A continual wear of the tooth makes the nerve within the tooth more susceptible to inflammation. In few cases receding gums acts as a precursor to more serious conditions such as periodontal disease.
How to identify gum recession:
- It is not possible to identify receding gums visually alone. Identification of gum recession should start with regular check ups. However following are few signs mentioned to identify receding gums:
- Sensitivity of the tooth: increased sensitivity is one of the primary symptoms of gum recession and other conditions. Never ignore a sudden raised tooth sensitivity for granted.
- Longer teeth: if your teeth seem longer, then that may be an indication of recession.
- Cleft at the gum line: a minor indentation or notch often detectable by touch indicates receding gums.
Main causes of gum recession:
- Mal-positioned teeth, aggressive tooth brushing habits and periodontal disease or any orthodontic treatments can be the contributing factors for gum recession.
- People with inherently thin gums are also at an increased risk.
- Hormonal changes can make gums more vulnerable and sensitive to gum recession
- insufficient dental care such as improper flossing and brushing makes it easy for the plaque to turn in to tartar thus leading to gum recession.
- clenching and grinding your teeth can put too much force on teeth causing them to recede.
- Tobacco users are more prone to sticky plaque on their teeth causing the gums to recede.
- People with diabetes are three times more likely to develop gum recession than those without diabetes
Treatment options:
- With new developments 955 of the gum recession cases can be treated with regenerative matrix(tissue like material).
- These matrices were developed to treat burn victims. But today it is widely used for reconstructive surgery in both dentistry ad medicine.
- This procedure eliminates the requirement to do surgery in the mouth for harvesting the patients own tissue and the possibility of bleeding gums.
- These matrices deliver a predictable treatment with faster and better healing.
- The donor tissue undergoes rigorous screening processes similar to those of implantable organs or tissues.
Maintenance:
- In order to maintain healthy gums after the treatment, one need to follow home care instructions which are provided by the dentist.
Gum recession might occur slowly and sometimes over a period of years. This can make it difficult to spot if you don’t experience sensitivity or pain.
