When you have gum recession, this can make your teeth appear long and uneven. In addition, this could mean you are developing the advanced stage of gum disease, and could risk losing your natural teeth! In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about how we correct receding gums with the Pinhole Surgical Technique™.
The Factors Behind Gum Recession
Gum recession means the tissues are pulling away from your teeth. Without treatment, this could make your teeth appear longer than usual, and also expose sensitive root structure to harmful bacteria, which increases the risk of tooth decay and dental infection. At this stage, you are also more likely to develop periodontitis as we touched on above, the advanced stage linked to tooth loss. This could be caused by untreated periodontal disease. We urge you to see us and take action at the first signs of sore, red, and bleeding gums. But once they begin to recede, attention is critical!
The PST™ System
Traditional gum grafts are a more involved procedure that involves taking tissues from other parts of your smile surgically, and then attaching them to the exposed portions of the teeth with sutures. While effective, we have a more conservative and less involved option to correct your receding gums! With the Pinhole Surgical Technique™ (PST), our team will instead employ dental lasers to modify the gum and bone structure as needed in preparation for the procedure. We then make a miniscule hole in the gums and add a collagen material. Our team next manipulates the tissues to ensure they can cover the teeth and offer a symmetrical and attractive gum line in the process. The entire process only takes one visit to complete and heals quickly, so you can return to your normal routine after about 24 hours.
Managing the Disease
After the procedure, we want to offer a holistic preventive approach to manage the disease and prevent further inflammation and recession down the road. We could do this with Supportive Periodontal Maintenance every three to four months, or via Ozone Therapy, antimicrobial medications, and more. We can also discuss proper homecare habits, such as brushing and flossing, to aid in the process. If you have any questions about how our team will treat issues like periodontal disease and receding gums, then contact our team today. We want to help you enjoy a full and healthy sale for years to come!
Talk to Dr. Kania About Our Treatment Options
Our team can offer care to address your receding tissues. To learn more about how we manage your periodontal disease, or to schedule your appointment, give us a call at our office in Encinitas, CA today at 760-642-0711.