Treating Your Gum Recession

When most people think about having a nice smile, they focus solely on the teeth, but the appearance of the gums also play a part. As in agum disease portrait, the teeth are the subject while the gums are the frame. There's no need to keep holding back your smile because you don't want people to see your gumline. Let periodontist Dr. Neal Pylant treat your case of gum recession at his office in Athens, GA.

What Causes Gum Recession?
Gum recession often happens due to gum disease, periodontal disease, or some type of trauma to the gumline. The gums separate from the teeth and recede due to the effects of bad bacteria or an injury. Patients who grind their teeth often or brush aggressively with a hard toothbrush may also experience gum recession. It can also be caused by genetics—some people are just born with gums that are less strong and more susceptible to recession. Recession is not only a loss of gum tissue, but also the underlying anchoring bone. This is why recession can also cause tooth looseness.

Receding Gumline Problems
Having a receding gumline is not good because it exposes the roots of your teeth. This could cause additional problems with gum disease, or eventually cause the teeth to loosen. It can lead to severe tooth pain and sensitivity to hot or cold sensations. Gum recession also presents an esthetic problem. When you smile or laugh, other people can see your gumline and exposed teeth. A healthy, youthful-looking smile has an even gum-to-tooth ratio and a sufficient amount of gum tissue.

Gum Recession Treatment
Dr. Pylant has a solution for gum recession cases in his Athens periodontal office. The first step is a thorough exam to determine the causative factors. The next course of action can be scaling and root planing, along with oral care evaluation to ensure that the gums are free from bacteria-filled plaque that causes recession. In some cases, regenerative periodontal therapy or surgery may be part of the solution. The gumline may be fully restored with grafting (i.e., adding new bone or soft tissue to re-establish the growth of healthy tissue), or with cosmetic gum surgery.

Have Your Case of Gum Recession Treated
It only takes one consultation with Dr. Pylant to find out if your gum recession can be improved. Contact the office today at (706) 543-0026 to schedule an appointment at his office in Athens, GA.

Contact Us

F. Neal Pylant, D.M.D., P.C.

Scott Lowry, D.M.D.

706-543-0026

375 Hawthorne Lane Athens, GA 30606-2153