Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about gingival (gum) recessions and our answers.
If you have receding gums, two situations can be considered:
On the one hand, periodontitis in its advanced stages can lead to recession of the gum line. Periodontitis itself is an inflammatory disease that has developed due to bacterial plaque. If periodontitis is not treated, the breakdown of the tooth anchorage below the gum line continues. In periodontitis, the initial breakdown of the tooth anchorage is not visible. It is only when periodontitis is more advanced that the gum line recedes and you might notice this as gingival (gum) recession because the root surfaces of the teeth have also become exposed and visible.
On the other hand, not all gingival recession is due to periodontitis. You could therefore suffer from gingival recession. These would have been caused by brushing your teeth too vigorously, for example. Due to the great force, the toothbrush repeatedly injures the gum line. As it heals, it always recedes a little further until the root of the tooth underneath is exposed. Even if you change your oral hygiene and clean your teeth with less force, the gingival recession will remain and the gum line will not grow back to its original position.
Only the examination in the dental practice can finally give you the correct answer.
Not every gingival (gum) recession needs to be treated. For those affected without periodontitis, oral hygiene can already be corrected and optimised accordingly if detected early in the annual dental check-up. In this way, the gum line with its recession remains, but it is not further exposed to new influences (e.g. scrubbing the toothbrush).
For sufferers with discomfort when consuming cold food or drinks, an appropriate adjustment of the diet as well as a regular application of so-called fluoride gels can help to reduce the discomfort somewhat.
In the case of persistent discomfort or disturbing aesthetics, treatment with a surgical intervention can be considered. In this case, the gum line of the affected teeth is brought back to its original position.
Furthermore, in the case of exposed tooth necks, which also have eroded hard tooth substance, it can be considered to fill them again with a filling material.
Only the examination in the dental practice and, if necessary, a consultation with a specialist in periodontology can ultimately give you the correct answer.
Often, people do not discover their own gingival (gum) recession themselves. More than 50 percent of adults reveal at least one tooth with a gum recession. Of these, most of the affected teeth are symptom-free.
If the recession is not visible in the mirror at home, for example, an examination at the dentist’s office can provide clarity as to whether one is present.
It is important for sufferers to know the location of their gingival recession so that further damage can be prevented there. Since already existing gingival recessions that are not treated surgically remain throughout the entire life span, it must be remembered, especially at an older age, to successfully prevent the unwanted root caries at the exposed necks of the teeth.
In an initial consultation, the dentist will determine whether you are exposed to any risk factors. Known risk factors for gingival recession are: incorrect tooth brushing technique with the toothbrush, thin gums, orthodontic treatment, smoking, smokeless tobacco (snus) or a piercing.
Furthermore, the dentist or dental hygienist will perform a so-called periodontal brief examination, which will only take a few minutes. Using a gum probe (periodontal probe), the depth of penetration at the gum line is measured gently and with millimetre precision at selected points. The millimetre-precise clinical probing with the periodontal probe to measure the gum margins and to locate the jawbone are indispensable for the diagnosis of gingival recession.
After this brief examination, further clarifications are only carried out if signs of tooth anchorage decay are found during this process. These clarifications include the so-called periodontal status as well as additional X-rays.
If the gingival (gum) recession is not yet too advanced, the original condition can be restored with a surgical intervention.
Gingival recession is classified into four different degrees of severity. However, depending on the severity, there is only a small range of treatment options available.
Simple recession is when the recession of the gingival line has not yet reached the mobile oral mucosa. In the second degree of severity, the recession has already penetrated the movable mucosa. In both cases, correction of the gingival margin is possible with a surgical intervention.
Since in the case of severity levels 3 and 4, jawbone between the teeth has already been removed, gingival recessions present there cannot be completely corrected with surgical measures either.
Following gum treatment, long-term success over several years is only guaranteed if patients maintain optimal oral hygiene at home, preventing gingival recessions from forming or their gums from becoming inflamed by new bacterial plaque on a daily basis.
For optimal long-term success, it is also important to have ongoing professional long-term care from the dental hygienist or prophylaxis assistant, so that any recurring problems can be recognised and remedied in good time.
Following gum treatment, long-term success over several years is only guaranteed if patients maintain optimal oral hygiene at home, preventing gingival recession from forming or their gums from becoming inflamed by new bacterial plaque on a daily basis.
For optimal long-term success, it is also important to have ongoing professional long-term care from the dental hygienist or prophylaxis assistant, so that any recurring problems can be recognised and remedied in good time.
Gum recession is often confused with periodontitis because in both cases the teeth appear longer than normal, but there are significant differences between the two phenomena that should be noted:
On the one hand, gum recession is the recession of the gums on the outside of the dentition, usually visible to the naked eye. Affected persons do not suffer from additional periodontitis in such cases.
On the other hand, periodontitis, i.e. the inflammation of the periodontium, can also lead to recession of the gum line in advanced stages. Only an examination in the dentist’s office can clarify the cause of the receding gums.
In addition, after the treatment of periodontitis, gingival recession is observed not only on the outside of the dentition, but around the entire tooth. However, this is desired in such cases, as the shrinkage of the gum line can reduce the undesirable gum pockets.
Further information
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