What do you know about gum recession? When we have untreated periodontal disease, this could lead to gum recession. As the tissues recede, this harms the health and appearance of your smile. But we can help! In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about laser-assisted gum grafting and how this can improve oral health and smile beauty.
The Causes and Risks of Gum Recession
Why do our gums begin to recede? This occurs when we develop periodontal disease. Without treatment to manage the disease, it can reach a more severe stage, one linked to receding tissues and eventually, adult tooth loss. Brushing too hard can also exacerbate the issue. When your tissues recede, this exposes portions of the tooth that are not protected by enamel and more prone to develop tooth decay and infection. You also risk worsening periodontitis, and the destruction of the tissues that connect your teeth and gums, allowing tooth loss to occur. Your teeth could also appear longer and uneven! But our team can help with a laser-assisted gum grafting procedure known as the Pinhole Surgical Technique.
The Pinhole Surgical Technique
With traditional gum grafts, we would take tissues from the interior of your mouth and use them to cover the exposed portions of the teeth. While effective, this is a more involved form of oral surgery. But our team can provide an alternative! With the Pinhole Surgical Technique, our team can make a miniscule pinhole in the tissues. We then add a special collagen material to the interior. Our team will manipulate the tissues until they cover the exposed roots and provide a gum line with proper symmetry. The process only takes one visit and you can see results immediately. Most people even return to their normal routine after only a day of rest. You can leave our office with a stronger and healthier smile, one that looks good too!
Assistance with Dental Lasers
Our team may assist the procedure with dental lasers, as these can help make changes to your periodontal tissues and underlying structures with precision and accuracy. They can also destroy pockets of harmful bacteria in the process, keeping your smile strong and healthy. If you have any questions about how we protect periodontal health with dental lasers, or about how we address receding tissues with the Pinhole Surgical Technique, then contact our team today to learn more.
Schedule Your Appointment to Restore Your Smile
Our team wants to ensure your smile is healthy and avoids the negative changes of untreated periodontal disease, so see us when you notice your tissues receding! To learn more about how our team uses lasers and unique treatments to take on receding gingival tissues, call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.