Maybe you’re not even sure how it happened, but one day you looked in the mirror and noticed your gums had changed. Age, dental habits, or even stress can cause changes in your gums and cause them to recede.

At Highland Advanced Dental Care, we understand what causes gum recession and how to help. Gum recession can expose the root of the tooth and make that tooth more susceptible to harmful acids or bacteria. Plus, bad gums are an eyesore. Today I have a special message for patients who are struggling with disappearing gums! Help is on the way.

The Causes of Gum Recession

It’s common to see a few changes in the gums over the years, but we also know of some common causes of gum recession, such as.:

  • Poor oral hygiene. Gum recession can occur with gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. An infection in the gums can cause the tissue to recede. If not stopped, this infection can reach the bone and compromise the tooth. We provide gum diseases treatment in our office, if you’re certain there is something more than simple recession happening to your gums.
  • Hard brushing. It’s not how hard you brush, but how thorough you are cleaning your mouth. Plaque is soft and can be easily removed with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Heavy brushing can damage the gums causing bleeding and even recession.
  • Stress or trauma. A bad bite or even teeth grinding or bruxism can lead to gum problems. These actions or habits all put added stress on the teeth and gums and cause cause gum recession.
  • They are other factors that genetics that can also damage your gums.

The One Treatment to Repair Gum Recession

When we talk about gum treatment, patients sometimes get a little nervous. I understand given that gum tissue can be very sensitive —especially if it’s infected.

Understand that most dentists do not offer treatment for gum recession. They often refer you to another dentist or periodontist —a person who treats gum problems. That’s not the case at our office, a one-stop shop for all your dental needs. We don’t need to refer you to another office when we have the treatment that’s right for you.

The most common way to treat gum recession is with gum grafting. That involves the use of scalpels and stitches. As you might imagine, this is not anyone’s first option. That’s why we have implemented an alternative to invasive traditional gum surgery. It’s called the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique.

The Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique doesn’t use scalpels or sutures. Instead, we create a small pinhole in the gums and gently guide the tissue into a more appropriate location. Once the tissue is moved, we place collagen strips to stop the tissue from sliding back.

This entire procedure can be completed in one visit, and the recovery period is much faster than conventional gum surgery. In fact, most of our patients tell us they feel little to no discomfort.

I love showing my patients new and improved technology. It gives them more peace of mind in the dental chair so they can focus on what’s important: their smile.

If you have gum issues or simply need a great general dentist, call us today at 248-329-3552 or use the online form to schedule a visit.