Grafts

People today more than any other time are keeping their natural teeth longer. As a result like anything else with aging, maintenance is required to keep their teeth healthy and functioning properly. As we age there is a general trend for our gums to recede. Gum recession has many contributing factors:

• Genetics
• Poor oral hygiene
• Excessive forces in brushing
• Trauma

Teeth with recession have many characteristics:

• Can be more sensitive to temperature, touch and sweets
• Look longer and darker
• More prone to decay, erosion and abrasive wear from food and brushing
• Difficult to brush thoroughly

The most important consideration in treating gum recession is determining the elements responsible for it. Once these factors have been identified, the recession can be treated surgically in confidence knowing the recession should not recur.

As a general rule, the younger a person is with recession the more important it is to treat. Conversely, there are many people who have gingival recession who do not necessarily need gum grafting procedures. These people are monitored closely over time.

Many different types of gum grafting procedures are available depending on the situation. As with all dental surgical procedures, a comprehensive evaluation and discussion prior to the procedure would be necessary.

If you have questions about gingival recession it is important that you have Dr. Malinowski discuss this topic with you.