Do you notice your teeth looking longer than before? Perhaps you’re experiencing sensitivity when enjoying your favorite ice cream or hot coffee. These common signs of gum recession don’t just affect your smile’s appearance; they can also impact your comfort and dental health. Fortunately, gum tissue grafting offers a solution for stable, moderate gum recession in healthy patients. This specialized procedure takes tissue from another area of your mouth to cover and protect exposed tooth roots.
At Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants, we understand having gum recession and seeking treatment can feel overwhelming. Our warm, caring team specializes in gentle periodontal treatments that help you feel comfortable while addressing your specific needs. Our specialists, Dr. Jay Laudenbach, Dr. Ishita Bhavsar, and Dr. Robert Slauch, bring their extensive expertise and compassionate approach to determine if gum grafting is right for you.
Is Gum Tissue Grafting Right for You?
Our trusted professionals understand what works for one patient may not work for you, so we take a personalized approach and closely evaluate your gum recession and oral health to determine if gum grafting is the best solution. During our thorough and gentle evaluation, we measure your gum recession, conduct a comprehensive exam, discuss your options, take photos and X-rays, and consider the following factors to ensure you’re a good candidate for gum grafting:
Your Gum Recession Pattern
If you have moderate gum recession that exposes some of your tooth roots, you may be an excellent candidate for grafting. Whether it affects just one tooth or several areas, we can determine if grafting would benefit your specific gum recession pattern.
Your Overall Oral Health
Having generally good oral health, besides your recession, makes you an ideal candidate. If you have other concerns like active gum disease, we can address these first to create the perfect foundation for successful grafting.
The Stability of Your Recession
If your recession has remained relatively stable rather than rapidly progressing, you’re likely a great candidate for gum grafting. Stable recession allows us to plan effective, lasting treatment with predictable results.
Your Recession’s Cause
Knowing why your gums have receded helps us determine if grafting will be successful for you. Common causes include the following:
- Brushing too aggressively
- Gum disease
- Teeth alignment creating uneven pressure
- Natural genetic factors affecting gum thickness
- Past injury to your delicate gum tissues
Discovering these root causes helps us craft a treatment approach that doesn’t just address symptoms but also helps prevent future concerns.
Your Health and Lifestyle
The following personal factors can influence how well your body responds to grafting:
- Being smoke-free (or willing to take a break around your procedure)
- Having well-managed health conditions
- Not taking medications that significantly affect healing
- Having good overall health and oral hygiene habits
We consider your whole-body health because we care about more than just your smile; we care about you! Our dedicated team takes the time to discuss your health history and preferences to ensure your treatment will provide long-lasting results you feel proud to show off.
When to Contact a Periodontist About Gum Grafting
If you notice your gums receding, you’re not alone. Over half the population has gum recession in one or more places. However, knowing if your gum recession is a cause for concern and if you should contact a periodontist can be challenging. The following symptoms may indicate it’s time to reach out to us and consider treatment to restore your gum with grafting:
- Noticeable root exposure when you smile or speak
- Discomfort with temperature changes in foods and drinks
- Teeth appearing longer than they once did
- Small notches forming near your gum line
- Concerns about ongoing changes in your gum position
Addressing these subtle signals early allows us to help you with simpler solutions before more complex issues develop. If gum grafting is the right solution for your gum recession, it can help enhance your smile’s appearance, function, and confidence.
Learn More About Gum Grafting With the Experienced Team at Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants
If you’ve noticed changes in your gums or experienced increasing sensitivity, we’d love to help you go back to enjoying life and smiling freely. Our friendly team, including diplomates of the American Academy of Periodontology, makes the process easy and comfortable with our comprehensive $199 consultation that includes all necessary X-rays, detailed measurements, and professional photos – everything needed to help you make an informed decision about your care.
At Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants, we believe everyone deserves a healthy, comfortable smile they love to share. Our warm, patient-centered approach and premium-quality materials ensure you receive exceptional care from our team of specialists. To schedule your consultation in our welcoming Philadelphia office, simply call us at (215) 985-4337 or reach out through our contact form.
