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 The Houston cosmetic dentists at the Medical Center Dental Group are dedicated to providing their patients with solutions that are equally viable on both the medical level and the aesthetic level. One of the more pronounced problem areas people struggle with is the gum line. Sometimes gums are too long, making teeth appear abnormally short. At other times, teeth look too long and misshapen due to gum recession.
Tooth roots are often exposed because of gum recession. People who experience this condition often find it embarrassing to smile because their teeth look too large for their mouth. Many of these people often complain about pain in their mouths. It seems that exposing tooth roots to the open air can cause them to be exceptionally sensitive to heat and cold.
There are a number of causes for gum recession. Sometimes it is something very simply, such as aggressive tooth brushing with a tooth whose bristles are too hard. At other times, it is the result of Periodontitis, or gum disease. Our team of Houston cosmetic dentists can take a look at both possibilities each time a new patient comes to see us for the first time. With a full dental examination, any serious gum disease or deterioration of mouth tissues can be better addressed with full knowledge of the situation at hand.
Regardless of the ultimate cause, once mouth tissue is restored to a healthy median, the cosmetic dentist will perform a type of periodontal plastic surgery known as a perio-tissue graft. These grafts are done to cover roots and to develop gum tissue where it is absent by taking gum tissue from the palate or another donor source and using it to cover the tooth root.
1. When the patient arrives at the office, the cosmetic dentist and dental hygienists conduct a complete dental examination of the patient’s mouth. This is to check for things such as tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer.
2. The recipient site (in this instance, the receding gum line) is prepared for the graft.
3. The donor site is selected and readied. The cosmetic dentist takes tissue from one area and moves it to another. Tissue may also be detached from an adjacent gum and rotated over so that original blood vessels can be used in the graft.
4. Many times, our Houston cosmetic dentists are able to use tissue that does not require a second surgical site.
5. Once healing is complete, the recipient site has more tissue covering vital areas.
This can be done for a single tooth, or it can be done for multiple teeth.
There are many benefits offered by perio-tissue grafts. Perio-tissue grafts often reduce further recession and bone loss. In many cases, they protect exposed roots from decay by covering them again. The smile s obviously improves as a result of this procedure. Regardless of why a person has a perio-tissue graft performed, he or she can expect a significant improvement in the quality of life.
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