Gum Recession

Achieve Optimal Gum Health with Gum Recession Treatment

Gum recession occurs when the edge or line of your gums pulls back or shrinks away, exposing the root of your tooth. Receded gums can’t grow back. However, they are easily treatable with minimally invasive treatments. If you suspect gum recession, schedule an appointment with our team at Kelli Brady DDS. Drs. Kelli Brady offers gum recession treatment options to halt its progression and maintain healthier, happier gums.

Causes of gum recession

Gum recession causes gingiva tissues to pull back, revealing the tooth’s root surface. Unlike the tooth crown, which is covered with hard enamel, the root surface is covered with weak cementum. You may experience increased sensitivity when the roots are exposed.

Besides gum disease, any of the following can cause your gums to shrink:

• Aggressive brushing
• Overuse of abrasive toothpastes
• Teeth grinding and clenching
• Dental trauma
• Misaligned teeth
• Tobacco use
• Hormonal fluctuations

As a result of gum recession, your teeth may look longer than usual and the exposed root may appear darker than the crown. You may also notice increased sensitivity, painful chewing, and gum tenderness.

Gum recession treatment

Although receded gums cannot regenerate, it is possible to halt further recession, nurture your gums back to health, and enhance the appearance of your smile. Several treatments for gum recession exist, but the problem that caused the recession must be addressed first. For instance, we’ll recommend gentle brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid further erosion of gums caused by aggressive brushing.

When the source of the problem has been resolved, we can restore your oral health with the following treatments.

• Tooth fillings: We can use composite bonding to cover and protect exposed tooth roots and improve the appearance of your smile.
• Deep teeth cleaning: Also known as scaling and root planing, this non-surgical procedure eliminates unwanted tartar and bacteria from the deep periodontal pockets. Planing smoothes out the roots to encourage gum tissue to reattach to the surface.

Severe gum recession may require surgical procedures like regeneration therapy, gum grafting, and gingival recontouring. We’ll guide you every step of the way until you achieve optimal gum health.