50% of adults between the ages of 18 and 65 have gum recession. Gum recession, or gingival recession, refers to the progressive loss of gum tissue and the underlying bone. The exposed roots can cause sensitivity, decay and eventual tooth loss.
According to Drs. Peter Cabrera and Bahareh Sabzehei, “What is commonly called ‘gum recession’ is just the visual appearance of an underlying set of problems.” They explain that there are different factors that contribute to gum recession including disease, bone and tissue thickness, jaw shape, and the position of the teeth. It is important to find a specialist who focuses on your individual situation in order to get treatment that fits your needs.
At Perio Implant Chicago, our team focuses on the underlying causes of gum recession and we take each patient’s specific anatomy into account before considering treatment options. Some of the possible treatment options for gum recession include continuous monitoring, gum grafting, or the Chao Pinhole Technique.
According to Drs. Cabrera and Sabzehei, “…The risks and complications (of gum surgery) are minimal if you have the appropriate patient. If the patient’s mouth cannot safely provide the tissue needed, you simply do something else. The main complications that I have seen over the years have to do with clinicians who did not properly diagnose where they are taking the tissue from.”
Drs. Cabrera and Sabzehei strongly recommends putting your oral health into the hands of a trained Periodontal specialist when it comes to treatment for gum recession.
Dr. Cabrera has years of Periodontal experience, and he lectures both nationally and internationally on Periodontal and Dental Implant surgery. He is the past President of the Illinois Society of Periodontists and Midwest Society of Periodontology. Drs. Cabrera and Sabzehei stay up-to-date with all the latest improvements in Periodontal surgery via continuing education (as both a participant and an instructor).
Read more about Gum Recession here.
If you’ve been told by your doctor that you have gum recession or you think you might need gum grafting, call the office of Perio Implant Chicago today at (312) 736-7959 .
Diagnosis of gum recession at Periodontics and Dental Implants
What is gum recession?
This is Dr. Peter Cabrera from Cabrera and Sabzehei Perio Implant Practice. The topic that we’re going to be discussing today is understanding gum recession.
Gum recession is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed problems that we see in our practice.
When most people think about gum recession, they think of the visual appearance. The roots becoming exposed in the teeth, looking longer.
But visual appearance is not a diagnosis; treatment should never be based on visual appearance.
What factors lead to gum recession?
Having a clear understanding of the problem and the causes of the problems is crucial to helping the patient regain their health.
In reality, there are a number of things that happen under the exposure that leads to the loss of bone and the loss of gum tissue.
In our practice, when we examine a patient with gum recession, we examine all of the factors that contribute to the problem.
Those can include infection, the thickness of bone and tissue, excessive biting forces, and shifting teeth.
How can gum recession be diagnosed?
As part of our examination, we will often obtain a 3D image of the patient’s jaw. This is analogous to a CAT scan or a CBCT of the patient’s jaw. Only after a comprehensive exam can we make a sound treatment recommendation.
In summary, what is typically called gum recession is a complex set of issues that leads to root exposure and the appearance of longer teeth. The only way to achieve long-lasting success is to address the underlying factors.
Feel free to give us a call and make an appointment today.