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“ I have been having sensitivity with a few of my teeth and have noticed that my gums have started receding there. What can I do to stop it?”
Great question. Gum recession, which affects nearly half of the U. S. population, is when the gums begin to wear away, pulling back from the teeth. This causes more of the tooth to be exposed, and while esthetically unpleasing, it can also lead to other issues with your oral health. If the gums recede too much, the roots of the teeth become exposed to bacteria. As the gum pulls away from the teeth, a gap is formed and can permit bacteria buildup more easily if left untreated, which can lead to cavities and bone loss. The teeth will appear“ longer,” and can become more sensitive to temperature, or even to brushing.
As for causes, aging will play a significant role. Some of the factors that can increase the chances of developing receding gums, in both adults and children, include abnormal tooth position, genetics, periodontal( gum) disease, overly aggressive tooth brushing, and trauma to the gums.
Let me explain the traditional surgical method of addressing gum recession, which is known as“ gum grafting.” In this procedure, a piece of gum from the roof of the mouth is cut, removed, and then surgically sutured onto the receding gum area. The graft covers the once-exposed root of the tooth, to stop future recession, help decrease sensitivity, and improve the overall appearance of the gums. The effect on the roof of the mouth after the procedure has been described as having a“ pizza burn” which can last several weeks, or may be permanent. Traditional grafting also sometimes requires multiple surgical procedures and an extended recovery time. Your surgeon may also use a harvested“ skin” from a cadaver or pig if not from the roof of your mouth.
A new treatment method offers a very different approach, and provides nearly pain-free results for patients. This breakthrough method for treating gum recession, as seen on“ The Doctors,” was invented and patented by John Chao, D. D. S., and is called the Chao
Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation or Pinhole Surgical Technique. In this procedure, there is no incision, no sutures, and patients can see immediate results.
Unlike the traditional method, PST is performed by creating a small hole( the pinhole) above the area, then, using specialized instruments, the gums are loosened from the underlying hold, and moved into the proper position. Finally, tiny collagen strips are placed through the pinhole under the gums to reinforce the new, and desired, position of the gums.
Conventional gum graft surgery requires several incisions and generally can only correct one to two teeth per surgical visit, at times taking up to two hours to complete with multiple sutures. The pinhole procedure, on the other hand, requires no incisions, no sutures, and can correct 10 to 14 teeth during a single treatment session. For example, the gums around three teeth can be treated with PST in approximately 30-45 minutes, with the patient seeing a visible difference. Also, the pinhole is healed and disappears by the next day, while the traditional gum grafting can take up to three weeks to heal. The Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation therapy provides a way for the patient to have predictable, effective, minimally invasive treatment, while requiring no incisions, no sutures and presenting a faster healing time. Not everyone is a candidate for this procedure, so a consult would obviously be necessary.
Although being one of the first in the world to be trained by Dr. Chao, I will not be the last. He is training new dentists every day and in my opinion this procedure will become the standard of care in the future and is currently here at Fox Chapel Advanced Dental Care.
You can find more information on our website www. foxchapeldentalcare. com. Like always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact your dentist or call us at Fox Chapel Advanced Dental Care.
Dentally yours, Dr. Kevin Pawlowicz Fox Chapel Advanced Dental Care
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This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Kevin Pawlowicz.
Dr. Pawlowicz practices at Fox Chapel Advanced Dental Care on Old Freeport Road in Fox Chapel. He has trained at the Las Vegas and Seattle Institutes and is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the Academy of Laser Dentistry. You can learn more about Dr. Pawlowicz on his website www. foxchapeldentistry. com.
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