Your Options For Repairing A Receding Gum Line
If you've had gum disease or another oral problem that's caused a receding gum line, you might be feeling a bit self-conscious about it. Thankfully, there are several ways that a dentist can restore the appearance of your gum line. However, you'll need to make a decision about how the procedure is performed. This guide will explain three ways that your gum line can be restored, and the pros and cons of each.
Using Nearby Tissue
One possible method for repairing a receding gum line is to take tissue from a healthy part of your gum line and using it as a graft. A small incision is made on a healthy portion of your gum line, and a portion of that gum tissue is transferred and attached to the receding tissue. Dentists will usually take the healthy tissue from the gums covering your molars so that the removed portion isn't noticeable.
However, this method is only possible if some of your gums are healthy enough that tissue can be removed without endangering the tooth. If your entire gum line has receded, this method won't be possible.
Using Tissue from the Roof of the Mouth
Another option that dentists often employ is to take tissue from the roof of your mouth and use it to replace the missing gum tissue. Like the tissue taken from a rear molar's gum line, the incision is usually invisible to others. In addition, there's more tissue available on the roof of your mouth, so a larger portion of gum line can be repaired using this method.
However, this method isn't without its downsides. The biggest difficulty you may experience is that both your gums and the roof of your mouth will need to heal. This can make eating and drinking a bit uncomfortable while the incisions mend.
Choosing Donated Tissue
The final option is to use a donor's tissue for the repairs instead of your own. AlloDerm is a type of donor tissue that is specifically intended for repairing people's skin and gums, and is often implemented in repairing gums, or as grafting material for people with burns.
AlloDerm is specifically prepared by having all of the donor's cells removed from it, leaving just the collagen behind. This means that your body can effectively adopt the tissue without having to take immunosuppressants. Your body will gradually extend the blood vessels and nerves into the donor tissue, restoring your gum line fully.
A receding gum line can be embarrassing, but once the cause of it is controlled, you should talk to your dentist about having it repaired. Your cosmetic dentist can use one of these methods to restore your gum line and give you a new, brilliant smile.
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