Just like your tooth enamel, the gum tissue can become damaged by bacteria, acids, chewing nonfood items, or vigorous tooth brushing. Gums can also recede if the teeth are not aligned properly. This can make patients with overcrowded teeth more likely to develop exposed tooth roots. Like tooth enamel, gum tissue does not regrow itself once it has been lost. However, there is an innovative treatment that can counteract the effects of gum recession and protect your oral health: Grant Park pinhole technique gum treatments.

Are you concerned about your gum health? Visit Dr. Abbey Lee at Smiles 4 Grant Park and we’ll conduct an oral health exam. If you need gum therapy, we’ll explain how it works, including Grant Park pinhole technique treatments. Call 404-328-7177 to make an appointment.

Gum Recession Threatens Your Oral Health

When the gum tissue looks like it’s pulling away from the teeth, we call this gum recession. It is often seen in connection with gum disease, but not all patients with gum recession will have infected gums. If gums are allowed to recede, eventually the roots of the teeth will become exposed. This can be a big deal because tooth roots do not have enamel to protect them. This makes them less resistant to decay and staining. If you have noticed a fine line of yellow or brown staining just below the gum line, this can be one of the first indicators that your gum tissue is starting to recede.

Pinhole Gum Treatment

Pioneered in 2006 by Dr. John Chao, this surgical technique uses very small tools to gently push healthy gum tissue down around the area where the tissue has receded. It’s referred to as a surgical procedure, but it does not require any cutting with a scalpel or sutures. The small tools that enter the gum tissue are only as thin as a small pin, which creates less trauma and bleeding to the tissues. During the procedure, the gums are numbed with an anesthetic, and patients feel far less sensitivity afterwards than with more traditional approaches. For example, gum graft surgery requires surgery, sutures, and weeks of healing time. With the pinhole technique, however, patients report that their gums feel normal again after only a day or two.

Gum Disease and Gum Therapy

If you are showing signs of gum recession, there’s a good chance you have or will develop gum disease. This condition is diagnosed when the pockets of space between the teeth and gums become enlarged and infected with mouth bacteria. Once bacteria infect the gums, gum therapy treatments (deep cleanings) can help you lower bacteria levels and preserve the healthy gum tissue you have left.

Most people think of the dentist as being a “tooth doctor” but gum health is equally important to good oral health. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss; if you haven’t been paying attention to the health of your gums, now is a good time to start!

Gentle Gum Treatments at Grant Park

There’s really no reason not to seek help if your gums are starting to recede. Dr. Lee uses gentle laser tools to perform deep cleanings, and minimally invasive Grant Park pinhole technique to restore lost gum tissue. These innovative treatment options are far less traumatic to the gums than traditional gum therapy, so we guarantee the softest touch in town!

Contact us at 404-328-7177 to make an appointment to have your gums checked. If you need gum therapy or Grant Park pinhole technique treatments, we’ll explain the process in detail, so you can make an informed decision about your oral health!