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 Jackson dentistry center has achieved excellent results with dental implants. We’d like to consider the nature of gum recession and why this condition can have such a negative impact on dental implant treatment and proper aftercare.
Causes of Gum Recession
Some common causes of gum recession include the following:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Poor Oral Hygiene – People who brush and floss so aggressively that their gums bleed are doing more harm than good. This damage to the gum tissue can lead to gum recession over time.
-
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
Dental implants are anchored directly into the jawbone and gum tissue and 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.
Soft Tissue Augmentation
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.
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.
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 ther serious wellness risks.
Be sure to brush and floss regularly when dental implants are in place, and to follow all instructions for proper oral hygiene and care. Prevention 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 today. The team at Harmony Dental Care will work with you to replace missing teeth and consider all of your treatment options.