Tag: gengival

Periodontal disease: how do I know if I have it?

Periodontal disease is characterized by the formation of a space between the gum and the tooth, a periodontal pocket, which helps to accumulate food debris and bacteria. It is the main cause of tooth loss in adults. As in all cases, only a dentist can determine with certainty the patient’s condition and what treatment should be carried out.

Periodontal disease self-examination

But people can find out more quickly at home what their problem is. In the case of periodontal disease, the most characteristic sign is bleeding gums. In addition, changes in the position of the teeth, swollen gums, tooth mobility, receding gums, bad breath and food retention are signs that the disease may already be present.

Periodontal disease is caused by bacterial plaque adhering to the tooth. Bacterial activity in this area releases toxins that initially cause the gums to loosen, making room for infection inside. This infection leads to the progressive deterioration of the supporting tissues of the teeth and in advanced cases, they become soft and fall out.

However, changes in the gums can also be associated with emotional causes, medication or low immunity. That’s why it’s important to have a consultation to assess the causes.

periodontal disease bone loss — Periodontal disease: how do I know if I have it?

periodontal disease space between teeth blackspace dental inclined teeth bone loss and gum recession — Periodontal disease: how do I know if I have it?

Treatments for inflamed gums

For treatment, the patient must go to the dentist who will remove the plaque by scraping and smoothing the roots of the teeth. Surgery may be indicated if the aforementioned procedures do not reach the entire area of the compromised root. Even with proper treatment, there may be sequelae such as displacement in the position of the tooth, bone loss and gum recession. Surgical and prosthetic procedures are available to reduce these effects.

If you’re noticing any of these symptoms of periodontal disease, make sure you schedule an appointment to start proper treatment as soon as possible, and thus avoid more serious problems such as tooth loss.

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Gum grafting to improve the aesthetics of teeth

What is gum grafting?

Gum grafting is used to try and reconstruct an area of the mouth that has suffered from receding or lost gum tissue. Gum recession can occur due, for example, to brushing too hard, gum disease, bruxism or prolonged use of braces. To reduce the effect of the problem, gum grafting is usually indicated.

This is a surgical procedure that consists of removing a piece of mucosa from the patient’s own palate (roof of the mouth) and then placing it over the defect. The material is removed under local anesthesia and the person feels no pain, only slight discomfort.

Update: It is now possible to perform gum grafting without removing gum from the roof of the mouth, using a synthetic material for this purpose.

When healthy, the gums form a protective collar around the tooth. There are two types of gum: the inserted gum, which is a pink, thicker tissue that surrounds the tooth and is adhered to by the bone tissue, and the mucosa (non-inserted gum), a thin, soft and highly mobile tissue that forms the inside of the cheeks and lips. When the gums are unhealthy, we first need to restore their health by removing the bacteria with a periodontal scraping.

Gum defect needs grafting

A gingival defect (receding gums) usually occurs as a result of gum inflammation, caused by a tooth fracture for example. It happens when the gum tissue retracts, almost always due to excessive force when brushing the teeth. The retraction of the gum tissue leaves the tooth root exposed, causing tooth sensitivity and compromising the aesthetics of the teeth. In the case of dental implants, receding gums can expose the base of the implants.

There can also be gum loss due to trauma, accidents or periodontal disease. In these cases, the gums lose their original shape and the aesthetics of the smile can be compromised, especially in the area of the front teeth. In some cases, the placement of dental implants leaves the gums with an inappropriate shape, and this defect can also be corrected with the gum grafting technique.

It is important to note that the gingival grafting procedure does not guarantee success. Even if the procedure is carried out perfectly in terms of technique, there may be tissue necrosis and a consequent loss of the grafted tissue.

After gum surgery

To prevent pain, the patient uses medication (anti-inflammatories) before and after surgery. The dentist can also use “surgical cement”, a protective barrier that is fixed in place where the operation took place. It sticks to the teeth and gums for around five days.

The donor area is not left unprotected after the procedure, as it is sutured (stitched) and this protection helps to maintain its aesthetics and shape, even after a small piece has been removed. Among the main precautions after gum surgery, diet is the most important. The patient should follow the post-surgical recommendations, which are the same as for implant surgery, eating soft, cold food for the first few days to avoid bleeding, infections, and to help with analgesia and healing.

Acidic foods should also be avoided so as not to irritate or sting the gums. As an alternative to gum grafts, prostheses can be made to disguise the aesthetic problem, either with more favorable tooth shapes or with prostheses containing artificial gum. Each case is assessed individually.

If you have any questions about gum grafting, treatments or treatment prices, please contact our team. We at ImplArt Dental Clinic are happy to help you.

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Gum surgery: what is it for?

Gum plastic surgery is an option for people who are dissatisfied with their smile and also with the shape and size of their gums, mainly due to the lack of gums.

Gingival plastic surgery and tooth reshaping with composite resin

When they are very apparent, they influence the harmony of the smile and the self-esteem of some people. Gingivalaesthetics influences the smile through its relationship with the teeth, color and thickness of the gums. With this procedure it is possible to correct gum deformities by removing excesses and reconstructing areas that have little gum using gum grafts. The surgery is simple, performed under local anesthesia and carried out in the dentist’s office.

How is gum grafting done?

In general, gum tissue is taken from another part of the mouth, such as the roof of the mouth or behind the wisdom teeth. However, today it is also possible to use an artificial gum graft, obtained from pig tissue. After the procedure, the patient is instructed on how to perform oral hygiene for the first few days, as well as the medication they should take (usually antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and painkillers).

cirurgia gengival — Caso a estética da gengiva não esteja ideal há recursos que podem ajudar a aumentar ou diminuir seu volume.

They also receive recommendations on diet, especially to avoid eating foods with potential irritant reactions, such as acidic, very salty or spicy foods. The healing period depends on each case, but total internal gum rehabilitation takes place after six months. Many patients resort to this surgery due to gum disharmony, which can be related to excess or lack of gums.

periodontal — Gum surgery: what is it for?

Can the gums grow?

Growth can be caused by the use of medication such as antihypertensive drugs based on alodipine, anticonvulsants based on hydantoin, and fixed braces associated with poor brushing.

Gum recession or retraction is a change in the position of the gums as the root of the tooth becomes longer and more sensitive. This situation can occur due to strong traumatic brushing, malocclusion, when the bite is overloaded on the tooth with recession, bruxism and periodontal disease.

For this type of correction, gingival grafting may be indicated. The tissue used is taken from the mucosa of the roof of the mouth (palate). Surgery is contraindicated for patients with untreated cardiovascular problems, active periodontal disease, blood problems and mouth cancer.

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