A few days ago in my Highland Township dental office, I was meeting with a patient. His teeth were relatively healthy, but there was much to be desired in terms of cosmetics. His teeth were crooked and he had some serious signs of gum recession. He was ready for a change.
This patient sort of sheepishly asked me about ways he could fix his smile. I reviewed some of the possibilities. He cut me off in the middle and said, “You know, I’m not much for pain.”
“Perfect,” I said. “Neither am I.” We sat back and laughed for a few seconds but then began to seriously discuss the different modern methods available to people with his dental conditions. He knew that his teeth were crooked but had no idea that his problems could be fixed WITHOUT braces. He knew that his gums were receding but had no idea the problem could be fixed WITHOUT gum grafting.
I find this a lot in my practice, and certainly for new patients. Most people aren’t aware of the new modern ways we can repair their smile. So today, I want to share some information about how you can receive great dental results without invasive procedures.
Restore Receding Gums in One Visit
Receding gums are a huge problem that can be caused by grinding or clenching, trauma, or even gum disease. Of course, there is a cosmetic element to receding gums, too. The problem can make your entire mouth look unhealthy. Some patients only have minor recession, while other have seen their gums get smaller and smaller until the roots of their teeth are exposed.
The standard way to treat gum recession is with gum grafting. That’s where the oral surgeon removes a portion of tissue from the roof of the mouth and then stitches it in place. As you might imagine, this can be incredibly invasive. Furthermore, anytime we cut or stitch the tissue, there is a risk of infection!
A few years our office found an alternative to gum grafting. It’s called the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique. Instead of cutting and stitching the tissue, we can manipulate the gums into a better positions. We make a tiny pinhole in the gums and then move the gums into a more appropriate position. Once the gums are in the most ideal position, we place collagen strips to hold the tissue in place.
Straighten Teeth Without Braces
When I was a child, braces were the only way to straighten teeth. But that was many years ago, and now we have more modern and comfortable ways to fix your smile. ClearCorrect is a new orthodontic system that requires no brackets, wires, wire tightenings, etc. You also don’t have to worry about food restrictions.
ClearCorrect use clear, removable aligners to move the teeth into a better position. The aligners are virtually invisible and can be easily removed for cleaning and eating. I commonly use ClearCorrect for patients with mildly crooked teeth, gapped teeth, or even recessed teeth. A typical ClearCorrect treatment takes between nine and 18 months. That’s a fraction of the time of traditional orthodontics. To achieve optimal results, we ask patients to wear the aligners for at least 22 hours a day.
ClearCorrect and our pinhole technique are just two modern ways we can restore your smile. You don’t have to undergo painful surgery or invasive treatments. You can call our office today at 248-329-3552 or use the online form to request an appointment.