Receding Gums, (Gingival Recession) A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

Receding gums or gingival recession is the term used to describe gums that have shrunk back to show the lower, normally unexposed and protected part of the teeth.
It is a very frequent disorder, but because it involves a lot of people, that does not make it normal.
Left untreated receding gums can persist to shrink and can result in serious problems with the teeth and the gums.
In severe cases, people with receding gums find that their teeth become loose and can fall out or require to be taken out.
In gingival recession, there is formation of gaps or pockets between the teeth and the gum line which makes this region more vulnerable for collection of disease-causing bacteria.
If this disorder is left untreated, then there may be severe damage of the bone structures and the supporting tissue of the teeth, which can eventually lead to the loss of the tooth.
The first sign of receding of the gums is tooth sensitivity.
The tooth which has receding gums can also seem longer than normal.
A notch is often felt near the line of the gum.
Other Symptoms:
1. Swollen gums with a red tinge
2. Bleeding gums after brushing or flossing
3. Halitosis or bad breath
4. Loose and sensitive teeth
5. Problems experienced while chewing
6. Pus between gums and teeth
7. Pain at the gum line
8. Visibly shrinking gums resulting in the teeth appearing longer
9. Exposed tooth roots
Genes also play a part in dental diseases.
There are some people (30% population) who are more vulnerable to gum disease.
Inadequate dental care, such as inadequate flossing and brushing induces easy formation of plaque into tartar or calculus, which is a hard material that forms between the teeth and can only be eliminated by a professional dental cleaning.
Gingivitis and Periodontitis are gum infections that can cause receding gums.
Other causes:
1. Pressure from an imbalanced bite or poorly balanced dental work.
2. Pressure from teeth grinding or clenching.
3. The abrasive effect of piercing in the lips or tongue
4. Smoking
5. Eating disorders
6. Hormonal changes
7. Clenching and grinding of the teeth
Diagnosis is by:
Dental examination
Measuring Pocket Depth with an Instrument:
Dental X-Rays for bone loss
Treatment:
If the gum recession is mild, then treatment is done by cleaning the involved area.
The cleaning process is called tooth scaling and root planing.
In this intervention the collected plaque and tartar on the teeth and the root surfaces beneath the gum line is eliminated carefully and the root area, which is revealed is smoothed, so that bacteria does not easily bond there.
The dentist may give antibiotics too in case for any bacteria which is remaining.
In most cases, the only treatment needed for receding gums is to remove the original cause and permit the tissue to resolve naturally.
This could be through better tooth brushing, the use of anti-bacterial mouthwash (such as Corsodyl), realignment of the bite, treat previous dental work or simply the elimination of piercing.
Specialist toothpaste, intended for sensitive teeth, may also be advised to relieve the pain while the tissue grows back.
Surgery may be done in the worst patients of receding gums.
There are normally two methods:
1. Flap surgery is a deep tissue cleaning
It eliminates bacteria and tartar buildup within the gums.
2. In grafting, the purpose is to resolve either gum tissues or the bones.
During the intervention, the periodontist puts either a synthetic particle or a piece of bone or tissue
3. Pocket depth reduction where the involved gum tissue is folded back after removal of pus pockets
4. Soft tissue graft, pedicle graft and artificial grafts

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Receding Gums
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Gingivitis
Chapter 8 Dental Caries
Epilogue