To replace a missing tooth, almost anything is possible. Any condition that could possibly have a negative impact on your dental implant can be successfully treated prior to the placement of the implant. Patients who have receding gums can still choose dental implants to replace their missing teeth.
Dental implants, generally the tooth replacement method of choice, can be customized to compensate for a number of dental conditions. Even receding gums, a condition in which the gum tissue has pulled away from the teeth, can be addressed and corrected before, during or after your dental implant procedure.
The answer is yes, gums can recede around dental implants. Only, when gums recede on dental implants, the implants will expose themselves instead of a tooth root. Gum recession with dental implants can look unaesthetic, make patients feel self-conscious, and even result in implant failure.
As long as there is no active infection in the mouth, patients shouldn't have problems with their implants. Even if you've suffered from advanced periodontal disease with accompanying significant bone loss, you should be able to get dental implants if you have that bone augmented with a bone graft first.
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.
The Structure of Your Jaw Bone
A dental implant relies on the bone structure in your jaw for support. If the bone structure is lacking, this can prevent you from getting a dental implant. Bone loss happens for various reasons, including osteoporosis and gum disease.
People who have insufficient bone density and quantity are not suitable for the treatment because the implants need enough bone to attach. Dentists use dental X-rays and CT scans to determine the character of the jaw bones.
Your Gum Tissue is Healthy
Healthy gum tissue is absolutely essential to be a good dental implants candidate. If you brush and floss daily and see your dentist every six months for a check-up and teeth cleaning, your mouth is likely in very good shape for any sort of dental restoration.
Advanced periodontitis is the fifth and final stage of gum disease, and it is likely that you will lose teeth or at least loosen teeth during this phase without immediate dental intervention. The infection impacts the jawbone, so teeth may be lost regardless.
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.
Very often, surgery is the only way to restore health because the gums have begun to recede and pull away from the tooth structure. When they do this, the gums can appear elongated. Sometimes, the base of the tooth and roots will become exposed, creating an increased likelihood of developing a serious infection.
If gum tissue has been lost your dentist may suggest soft tissue, or gum graft, surgery. This is where tissue is grafted from surrounding gums or the roof of your mouth and stitched to the gum tissue to cover the exposed root of your tooth.
Gum graft surgery is the most predictable and long-lasting treatment option for gum recession. Typically, a periodontist (gum specialist) performs this procedure. During this surgery, a gum graft is used to replace your missing gum tissue.
To fix receding gums, we can use a procedure called a gum graft. This is a minor surgical procedure that involves taking healthy gum tissue from another part of the mouth and attaching it to where the gums have receded, providing extra tissue to build the gums back up.
SMOKING AND TOBACCO USE
If you smoke or use oral tobacco of any kind, you are not a good candidate for dental implants. Tobacco use is associated with a much higher risk of implant failure. Smoking slows down the healing process and increases your risk of a wide variety of infections and implant complications.
People who take certain medications, such as steroids or drugs that suppress the immune system, may not be suitable candidates, either. And people with certain habits, such as people who severely grind or clench their teeth, may put too much pressure on the implants, causing long-term damage.
The most frequent and avoidable cause of dental implant failure is infection. At any moment over the course of implant therapy, a bacterial infection that results in implant failures can happen. Peri-implantitis is a term used to describe an inflammatory response with bone loss in the soft tissues surrounding implants.
It should be noted that the success of dental implants is around 97%, which is high. But it does mean that there is a chance that it will fail or be rejected 3% of the time.
Dental implants are the most adaptable and durable replacement for teeth roots, with up to 98% of the success rate. However, an important point to mention here is that contrary to popular opinion, your body cannot reject an implant by considering it a foreign body, as can happen with organ transplants.
Gum graft surgery is recommended when the gums have receded enough to expose the roots of your teeth. As the gums recede, they form pockets between the tooth and the gums, which become a breeding ground for bacteria buildup.
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!