If you’re over the age of 65, you’re likely experiencing some form of gum recession on at least one tooth. Gum recession is a very common condition and this article serves to provide you with all the information necessary to understand the condition and to get it sorted.
The traditional approach to treating gum recession has primarily been gum tissue grafting. Grafting can be problematic, as it can cause symptoms including bleeding, swollen gums, pain, and a lengthy recovery period – especially if multiple teeth are affected. In recent years, a solution to this arduous process has been the Pinhole Method.
In this article, we’ll cover the basics of gum recession, its causes, and symptoms. We’ll also go over the pinhole surgical method to treat gum recession.
What is gum recession?
A receding gum occurs when the gum tissue moves away from its original position on the tooth. This process can leave spaces or gaps where food and harmful bacteria can become trapped. Usually, this process is insidious, and most individuals are not aware that they have receding gums until the condition is at an advanced stage.
Gum recession can cause a myriad of different complications, including but not limited to:
What are the possible causes of gum recession?
While age exacerbates gum recession, other contributing factors such as periodontal disease, genetic predisposition, and neglect of proper dental care may cause gum recession as well.
Symptoms can include:
How does the pinhole surgical method work?
The preliminary treatment for receding gums is a deep clean, which involves tooth scaling and root planing. This process removes bacteria, plaque, and smooths the root to make it difficult for harmful bacteria to attach themselves.
If your dental professional determines that these methods are no longer preventing the harmful side effects of gum recession, they may recommend gum surgery, particularly the Pinhole Method.
The Pinhole Method is a non-invasive, scalpel free, and graft free way of treating gum recession. Your dental professional will create a small ‘pinhole’ in the affected gums and insert a tool that will stretch and assist with repositioning the affected gums over the tooth. When the dentist has brought the gums down into a suitable position, they will insert collagen strips that will assist in the regeneration of new gum tissue while also keeping the gums in place.
What can I expect from the procedure?
Traditional methods like grafting can typically only treat one or two affected teeth at a time, but the Pinhole Method can be used on multiple affected areas in one session, giving you the best value for your time and money.
You can expect the procedure to last 1 to 3 hours, depending on the severity of your condition. A local anesthetic will be used to minimize discomfort. Once the procedure is completed, you can expect your results to be permanent with proper care and attention to your gum health.
The healing period after grafting can be lengthy as well as painful, but the Pinhole Method allows for a faster healing time – usually within 1 to 3 days, with minimal discomfort.
Call the dental experts at Dentistry at Consilium today!
Are you concerned that you may have gum recession? Don’t wait. Our elite, Toronto based team at Dentistry at Consilium have been specially trained in the Pinhole Surgical Technique, and are pleased to offer consultations to determine your candidacy for this treatment.
We know that receding gums can be a source of insecurity, pain, and stress. We’re here to help. Reach out today by phone at (416) 296-1080 or fill out our convenient online contact form.
300 Consilium Place #103
Scarborough, ON M1H 3G2