Have you noticed that your teeth have felt especially sensitive lately? Have little pockets developed along your gumline? Or have you been looking a bit, well, long in the tooth — literally?
Any of these symptoms may signal that the gum tissue around your teeth is receding or pulling away. In the past, you may have required invasive surgeries and grafts to treat your gum recession. But at Masterpiece Smiles of Tulsa, OK, Dr. Jan Cobble is trained in a revolutionary new gum-recession treatment: the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique, which delivers excellent results in a far less invasive manner.
Don’t Ignore Receding Gums
Gum recession tends to happen gradually, so it may take you a while to even realize it is happening. But once you do notice, it’s important to call Dr. Cobble immediately. Left untreated, gum recession can cause tooth sensitivity, loose teeth, and even tooth loss. When its roots are exposed, a tooth is more vulnerable to decay. So gum disease may also lead to cavities.
What Causes Gum Recession?
There is no single cause of gum recession. It can result from disease or a number of habits and behaviors. Here are a few of the more common culprits:
Gum disease, or periodontal disease: Unhealthy gums, unsurprisingly, are prone to pockets of decay along the gum line and receding gums.
Overly vigorous brushing or flossing: If you have a passion for clean teeth, it’s easy to get carried away and brush too hard. Scrubbing those pearly whites can wear away the gums and cause them to pull back. So remember, always use a soft toothbrush and brush thoroughly but gently.
Tooth grinding, or bruxism: Constant grinding of the teeth can lead to gum recession, along with pain and other issues. If you grind your teeth, Dr. Cobble can craft a mouth guard to help you halt the habit.
Abnormal tooth alignment: If your teeth are crooked or misaligned, the resulting uneven bite may cause gums to recede.
Genes: If you have a family history of gum recession, you may be prone to it. So it’s a good idea to be vigilant.
Lip and tongue piercings: These may cause recession if they rub or irritate the gums.
Tobacco: If you smoke or chew tobacco, you are more prone to gum recession. Tobacco products irritate the gums, plus people who use tobacco tend to have more plaque on their teeth.
How Can I Treat My Gum Recession?
How Dr. Cobble recommends treating your gum recession will depend on the cause and severity. If periodontal disease is to blame, for example, a strict regime of dental visits and good oral hygiene practices at home may do the trick. Or he may recommend root scaling and planing. This deep-cleaning technique, done under local anesthesia, removes plaque and tartar from along and under the gumline.
Masterpiece Smiles is one of the only practices in the Tulsa area to offer Perio Protect. This medication treats the underlying periodontal disease that can result in gum recession.
Dr. Cobble is trained in the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique, which is a superior alternative to the grafting surgeries that are a traditional treatment for gum recession.
Created by Dr. John Chao, the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique uses the patient’s existing gums to cover the problem areas. But this is accomplished without the cutting and stitching required for grafts. Rather, it simply adjusts the tissue to fit.
The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique holds many benefits over standard techniques:
- Less invasive
- Faster recovery
- Less post-treatment discomfort
- No need to cut and reattach donor tissue
- Scalpel and suture free