Gum Recession Treatments
Gum recession can occur for various reasons. These include gum disease, orthodontic treatment, harsh tooth brushing, tooth position and aging. Gum recession can cause cold and hot sensitivity on root surfaces, root caries and deterioration of aesthetic appearance.
Periodontal Plastic Surgery
The aim of periodontal plastic surgery is to protect the gingival margins from cheek and lip movements, to prevent gingival recession and to cover the root surface by increasing gingival height in cases where gingival height is reduced. However, it may not always be possible to completely cover the root surface; this depends on anatomical and regional factors. In some cases where complete coverage of the root surface is desired, a second operation may be required and this process may take approximately 6 months.
Soft Tissue Grafts
Soft tissue grafts are performed to increase tissue thickness around teeth and implants, increase the amount of adherent gingiva, treat existing gingival recession and prevent future recession, infections and related bone destruction. In this operation, a gum graft of appropriate width and depth is taken from the donor area in the patient's palate and placed in the recipient area where the gum is insufficient or the root surface is desired to be covered. After the operation, the sutures are removed after 10 days and it may take approximately 2 months for the tissue to fully integrate and heal with the recipient area.
Treating gum recession is important to maintain the health of the teeth, reduce sensitivity and improve aesthetic appearance.
