Gum recession refers to the loss of gum tissue along the gumline. Should gum recession occur, this can increase your risk of many dental health issues. In fact, gum recession can increase the risk of implant dentistry failure.
Our Madison and Ridgeland-area dentistry center has achieved excellent results with dental implants. Below, cosmetic dentist Kalil Abide, DDS discusses the nature of gum recession and why this condition can have such a negative impact on dental implant treatment and proper aftercare.
What Causes Gum Recession?
Some common causes of gum recession include the following:
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Periodontal Disease – Periodontal disease refers to infection of the gum tissue. This is the result of the oral bacteria that naturally occurs in the mouth. Later stages of periodontal disease will cause gum recession as well as more severe kinds of dental problems.
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Tobacco Products – Smoking or use of chewing tobacco has been linked to periodontal disease as well as gum recession. For a healthy smile and good overall wellness, consider this yet another compelling reason to kick the habit for good.
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Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) – Teeth grinding places a great deal of stress on the teeth, gums, and jaw joint. Over time, this can lead to gum recession in addition to many other dental wellness issues.
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Poor Oral Hygiene – Not brushing and flossing consistently is strongly linked with poor oral health outcomes, but people who brush and floss so aggressively that their gums bleed are also doing more harm than good. This damage to the gum tissue can lead to gum recession over time.
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Tooth Loss – If you’ve lost a tooth or a few teeth, the missing tooth can cause you to experience bone loss as well as gum recession. This is because there is not structure for the jaw or gumline to support.
How Gum Recession Affects Dental Implant Candidacy
The implant posts used to anchor single-tooth restorations, implant bridges, and All-on-4 dental implant restorations are anchored directly into the jawbone and gum tissue, and they are meant to function like natural tooth roots do. If there is not enough gum tissue present, this can increase the risks of implant failure. In fact, severe gum recession and/or bone loss can prevent a person from being a candidate for dental implants. Fortunately, advances in modern dentistry mean that patients have treatment options to address receding gums and bone loss.
Soft Tissue Augmentation for Gum Restoration
If you have suffered from gum recession but would still like dental implants, it’s possible to undergo soft tissue augmentation. These procedures use donor gum tissue to the gumline or use artificial soft tissue grafts to build up the gumline to a healthier state.
Healing will take a few months (which increases the overall treatment time for dental implants), but if successful, soft tissue augmentation helps restore the gumline and make dental implants a viable option for patients again.
Bone Grafting Before Dental Implant Surgery
In addition to gum recession, bone loss can also lower the chances of implant success. Bone loss is particularly common among patients who have had missing teeth over longer stretches of time—especially those who have worn traditional dentures. Dr. Abide may recommend a bone grafting procedure in these cases, which involves placing either a small piece of bone taken from a donor site or an artificial graft to rebuild the density, shape, and size of the jawbone.
Gum Recession After Dental Implant Surgery
Even if you have healthy gums after getting dental implants, there is still a risk of gum recession occurring. Should gum recession occur, it can lead to dental implant failure and a number of other serious wellness risks.
The best approach for keeping your gums—and dental implants—healthy is to brush and floss regularly and follow all of your dentist’s instructions for proper oral hygiene and care. Good preventative care and common sense can keep your smile healthy for years and years.
Contact Harmony Dental Care
To learn more about dental implants and how they can help you smile with renewed confidence and enhanced wellness, be sure to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center in Ridgeland today. The team at Harmony Dental Care will work with you to replace missing teeth and consider all of your treatment options.