Gum Graft - Repair of Gum Recession Oak Brook IL

When recession of the gingiva occurs, the body loses a natural defense against both bacterial penetration and the everyday insults to the tissue. When gum recession is a problem, gum reconstruction using grafting techniques is an option.

Causes And Consequences Of Gum Recession

Many patients have no signs of periodontitis (bleeding gums, redness, looseness of teeth), and then they wonder why they have gum recession. Contrary to what some people have been told, most recession is not caused by patient neglect. It is usually the result of the lack of thick, tough tissue which borders where the gums meet the teeth. This thick, tough tissue is called Attached Gingiva.

There are cases when patients cause their recession by brushing too hard, but in most cases, the patient should not feel guilty regarding the cause of their problem. Recession is usually something to which the patient has been pre-disposed.

Causes

The causes of Gingival Recession: Thin, Fragile Tissues vary and may be described as:

• Prominent Roots of the Teeth- teeth erupt into a forward position in relation to the jawbone
• Muscle Attachments- naturally formed with tooth eruption but serve no functional role after growth is complete. (see laser treatment- frenectomy)
• Associated with Orthodontic Treatment- teeth are very crowded before orthodontic treatment, the only way to put the teeth into a good alignment may be if the roots of the teeth are made more prominent. The finest of orthodontic treatment can not overcome the lack of enough space in the jaw where the teeth could be moved without making the roots of the teeth more prominent. This is especially true when you consider how many parents do not wish for the orthodontist to extract teeth as part of the orthodontic treatment plan!There are also circumstances where recession will still occur even after some extractions were done.
• Trauma (physical damage) to the Gums- caused most commonly from tooth brushing too vigorously or with a medium-hard bristle brush.

Recession is a common problem among patients. When there is only minor recession, some healthy gingiva often remains and protects the tooth, so that no treatment other than modifying home care practices is necessary. However, when recession reaches the mucosa (movable tissue), the first line of defense against bacterial penetration is lost. In addition, gum recession often results in root sensitivity to hot and cold foods as well as an unsightly appearance of the gum and tooth. When significant, gum recession can predispose to worsening recession and expose the root surface, which is softer than enamel, leading to root caries and root gouging.

Therefore, some recession requires treatment to increase the amount of gum tissue present around the tooth. A gum graft is designed to solve these problems (see following pages, gingival graft or connective tissue graft)