Many people wonder, 'can receding gums grow back?' But as we've mentioned, this isn't possible. Once your gum tissue has pulled back and away from your teeth, it's gone for good.
Left untreated, gum recession can lead to other serious oral health problems, such as bone loss, tooth mobility or feeling "wiggly" or even tooth loss. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, schedule an appointment with your dentist right away.
In severe cases, a gum tissue graft may be the best remedy for gum recession. In this oral surgery, the dentist takes tissue from the roof of your mouth and attaches it to your gum line. The goal here is to cover the exposed roots of your teeth to protect them from harm.
Receding gums cannot grow back. However, oral hygiene changes can stop gum recession, and some treatments can reconstruct gum tissue. Healthy gums fit snugly around the visible part, or the crown, of the teeth. Receding gums is when the gums pull back from the teeth, exposing each tooth and its roots further.
It's never too late for gum grafting as long as the patient has sufficient gum tissue to harvest for the graft. However, the success rate of the procedure may be lower in cases where the patient has advanced gum disease or other underlying health issues that can affect the healing process.
Does gum graft surgery hurt? You'll be numb during your gum graft surgery, so you won't feel anything during the procedure. You'll probably have mild soreness after your procedure, but your periodontist will give you medications and post-surgical instructions to help minimize your discomfort.
Getting gum grafts can restore the way your gums look, giving you a healthy-looking smile. They will also protect your gums from bacteria and acid attacks. If your teeth had become sensitive because the roots were exposed and a cavity had started, the gum graft surgery should stop the sensitivity.
Periodontal disease is not a life-threatening condition.
If not treated, these deep infections cause a loss of tissue and bone. Eventually you may lose one or more teeth.
Stage 4: Progressive Periodontitis
There is significant bone loss (50 to 85 per cent) from the root of the tooth in the final stage of gum disease. This stage involves teeth looseness, shifting teeth, red, swollen and painful gums, often forming an abscess.
Exposed tooth roots are most commonly caused by receding gums or gum disease, but other factors can contribute as well. Gum disease occurs when bacteria enters the space between your teeth and gums, causing an infection that eventually recedes the bone around the teeth and exposes the roots if not treated.
Your gums do not grow back after receding, however they can be restored to an extent. This process is called regeneration and usually occurs after the underlying bone has been exposed. However, not all cases of gum recession are reversible.
The most common cause of receding gums is periodontal disease, or "gum disease." Statistics show most adults over thirty have some periodontal disease, and the incidence goes up with age.
The gums can start to recede at any age. In fact, studies show that gum recession affects about “88 percent of people 65 years of age and older” and “50 percent of people 18 to 64 years of age”. Gum recession isn't reserved for older adults!
Stage 2: Periodontitis
At this stage, the supporting bones and fibers that hold your teeth in place have been irreversibly damaged. Your gums begin to form “pockets,” deep hollow areas around the teeth that trap food, plaque, and bacteria. Your gums will recede and form gaps between your teeth.
You might see pus around your tooth, and you'll notice your gums pulling away from contact with the tooth. Your gums might swell, and that swelling could extend to your face and neck, too. At this point, your tooth will likely have to be removed.
The base cost of a gum graft can be between $600 and $1200 per tooth. A periodontist is a specialist so is likely to have a higher fee. Donor tissue is more expensive than tissue that is harvested from the roof of your mouth.
The truth is that it's never too late to see a dentist and here are 7 reasons why you should make that appointment today. A healthy mouth supports overall health. Oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with gum disease can play a role in a person developing endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, and pneumonia.
Periodontitis affects more than 47% of adults over age 30 in the U.S. That number jumps to around 70% for adults 65 years and over.
Periodontal disease causes tooth loss if not treated early, and advanced periodontitis can lead to a decline in chewing ability, word pronunciation, and aesthetic function.
Periodontitis is the second stage of gum disease. Once you reach this stage, the damage done to your gum tissue is irreversible. Your gums may form a pocket below the gumline that traps food and bacteria. Other signs include increased swelling or redness of the gums and persistent bad breath even after brushing.
Gum graft surgery is a safe and effective treatment that will remarkably improve the patient's oral health. Patients will be able to return home on the same day. But if sedatives were used, they will need to arrange for transportation. The tissue healing typically takes about four to eight weeks.
If you use your own tissue, the most teeth you can typically graft at once would probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of 7-8 teeth. With alloderm, you could graft every single tooth in your mouth in one sitting!
Treatment is available from the periodontist
The periodontist can do this by taking tissue from the roof of the mouth or from under the roof of the mouth. This tissue is placed on the gums to build up the area where they have pulled away.