When teeth are healthy, the gums respond by fitting around the tooth and covering the roots entirely. However, in a tooth that has been damaged, diseased, or mistreated, the gums may pull away from the teeth or even a single tooth. This is known as gum recession and it’s more than an eyesore. Gum recession exposes the roots of your teeth, thus causing extra sensitivity to temperatures. But that’s just the beginning. Exposed roots are at higher risk for tooth decay. And the receding gums can be the result of multiple conditions including gum disease, loose dental appliances, gum trauma, overly aggressive brushing, and smoking. Gum graphs are common solutions, but they can be expensive, painful, and slow healing. Fortunately, pinhole gum rejuvenation can reverse gum recession without extreme discomfort. But why should you even bother with such an option?
Gum Disease Is a National Epidemic
Gingival recession may have a number of causes but it’s always visually represented by atrophic periodontal changes. One of the most common causes of gum recession is some form of gum disease: gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. Over half of American adults suffer from gum disease, and that’s just the beginning of the problem.
- Gingivitis is the earliest form of gum disease. It’s identified by plaque buildup at the gum line that causes inflammation, redness, and often bleeding gums, especially during brushing and flossing. If daily oral care isn’t enough to reverse the inflammation, the gums will become infected. This stage of gum disease is easily treated and reversed if caught early enough.
- Periodontitis is the middle stage of gum disease that is often marked by gum pockets that form below the gum line to trap food, plaque, and bacteria. At this stage of the disease, the fibers and bone that support your teeth are irreversibly damaged. But proper home oral care and dental treatment can still keep the disease from spreading further and causing more damage.
- Advanced periodontitis is usually when teeth begin to loosen or shift. Supporting fibers and bone are destroyed, and while aggressive treatment might work most often teeth need to be removed.
Research has shown that if not caught in time, gum disease can lead to more serious issues such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and even cancer. Fortunately, a simple gum disease treatment in Moorestown can stop, reverse, and correct the damage before it’s too late.
What’s So Special About Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation?
Reversing gum recession used to be a painful and invasive surgical process. It involved cutting tissue from the top of the mouth, then cutting the gum line, and stitching the new tissue in place so it could attach and grow over the exposed roots. But the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST) blew that obsolete procedure away. This scalpel and suture-free procedure uses a specially designed dental needle to create specific pinpoints and loosen the gum at various points above the recession. Collagen is then placed in the tiny holes and the gums naturally glide over the receded areas. The lack of cutting, stitching, and post-operative pain is combined with the thrill most patients have over their instant results. A call to your Moorestown dentist can help you decide if pinhole gum rejuvenation is right for you.
