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How To Prevent Gum Recession | Chicago Dentist

Gum recession is a common dental problem when the gum tissue surrounding your teeth starts to pull away or wear down, exposing the tooth’s root. It can lead to tooth sensitivity, aesthetic concerns, and even tooth loss if left untreated. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to prevent gum recession and maintain healthy gums.

  • Good Oral Hygiene: Proper oral hygiene is the cornerstone of gum recession prevention. Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Make sure to use gentle, circular motions to avoid damaging your gums. Floss daily to remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth.
  • Soft Toothbrush: Choose a soft-bristle toothbrush to avoid damaging your gums and tooth enamel. Hard or stiff bristles can be abrasive and contribute to gum recession over time.
  • Avoid Overly Aggressive Brushing: Brushing your teeth too aggressively can erode gum tissue and enamel. Be gentle and use a toothbrush with soft bristles to reduce the risk of gum recession.
  • Use Fluoride Toothpaste: Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and can prevent cavities, which, in turn, helps protect your gums from gum disease and recession.
  • Regular Dental Check-ups: Visit your dentist for regular check-ups and professional cleanings. They can identify early signs of gum recession and guide you on maintaining your oral health.
  • Quit Smoking: Smoking not only stains your teeth but also reduces blood flow to your gums, making them more vulnerable to recession. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall oral health.
  • Manage Bruxism: Bruxism or teeth grinding, can put excessive pressure on your teeth and gums, leading to gum recession. A custom mouthguard from your dentist can help protect your teeth and gums.
  • Balanced Diet: Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help maintain overall oral health. These foods provide essential nutrients for your gums, such as vitamin C, which aids in gum tissue repair.
  • Stay Hydrated: Drinking water is not only essential for overall health but also for maintaining oral health. It helps wash away food particles and bacteria that can lead to gum disease.
  • Address Gum Disease Early: If you notice signs of gum disease, such as bleeding, swelling, or redness, seek treatment promptly. Early intervention can prevent further gum recession.

In summary, preventing gum recession involves a combination of good oral hygiene practices, regular dental check-ups, a healthy lifestyle, and addressing any underlying dental issues promptly. By taking these steps, you can reduce the risk of gum recession and maintain a beautiful, healthy smile for years to come. Remember that the key to preventing gum recession is consistency in your oral care routine and seeking professional guidance when needed.

If you would like more information about soft tissue grafting, or the pinhole technique, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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The Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments of Gum Recession | Chicago Dentist

Gum recession is a common dental issue that can lead to various oral health problems if left untreated. It occurs when the gum tissue surrounding the teeth begins to pull away or wear down, exposing the tooth roots. This condition can be caused by various factors and can lead to sensitivity, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. In this blog, we’ll explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for gum recession.

Causes of Gum Recession:

Several factors can contribute to gum recession, and a combination of these factors may lead to its development. Some of the common causes include:

  • Poor Oral Hygiene: Inadequate brushing and flossing can lead to the buildup of plaque and tartar, which can cause gum inflammation and recession.
  • Aggressive Brushing: Overly vigorous brushing can damage the gum tissue and enamel, leading to gum recession.
  • Genetics: Some people may be more predisposed to gum recession due to their genetic makeup.
  • Smoking and Tobacco Use: The chemicals in tobacco products can hinder blood flow to the gums, making them more susceptible to recession.
  • Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): Constant grinding and clenching of teeth can put excessive pressure on the gums and cause them to recede.

Symptoms of Gum Recession:

Recognizing the signs of gum recession is crucial for early intervention. Some common symptoms include:

  • Exposed Tooth Roots: This is the most noticeable symptom, as the tooth roots become exposed when the gums recede.
  • Sensitivity: Exposed tooth roots can make your teeth more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
  • Longer-Looking Teeth: As the gums recede, your teeth may appear longer than usual.
  • Gaps or Spaces Between Teeth: Gum recession can cause gaps or spaces between teeth, making your smile less attractive.

Treatment Options:

The appropriate treatment for gum recession depends on its severity. Here are some options your dentist may recommend:

  • Improved Oral Hygiene: The first step in treating gum recession is to address any underlying issues. Your dentist may recommend better brushing and flossing techniques.
  • Scaling and Root Planing: This deep cleaning procedure can remove plaque and tartar buildup, allowing the gums to reattach to the teeth.
  • Gum Grafting: In more severe cases, your dentist may recommend gum grafting, where tissue is taken from another part of your mouth or a donor source and used to cover the exposed tooth roots.
  • Laser Therapy: Some dentists use laser technology to stimulate gum tissue regeneration and encourage the gums to reattach to the teeth.
  • Orthodontic Treatment: Correcting misaligned teeth can help redistribute forces on the gums and prevent further recession.

It’s important to consult with your dentist if you suspect gum recession or experience any of the symptoms mentioned above. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help prevent further damage to your oral health. Moreover, maintaining good oral hygiene practices and avoiding risk factors like smoking can go a long way in preventing gum recession in the first place.

If you would like more information about soft tissue grafting, or the pinhole technique, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Is Gum Rejuvenation Right For You? | Chicago Dentist

There are many things to consider when embarking on a gum rejuvenation procedure. The cost, invasiveness, advantages, risks, and recovery time. Gum recession is not something you should allow to progress beyond the warning signs, as it can create havoc for your oral health. Yet, reversing the recession is entirely possible, with multiple options available to you. Dr. Cabrera specializes in the Pinhole technique, the most advanced way to treat gingival recession.

The major benefits of the Pinhole technique are:

  • Non-invasive procedure
  • Quick recovery time
  • No sutures
  • Minimal swelling and discomfort

The Pinhole Technique is the best way to treat gum recession, and If you would like more information about soft tissue grafting, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Pinhole Surgery: What To Expect | Chicago Dentist

The Pinhole Surgical Technique is the most advanced way to treat gum recession. While there are plenty of benefits to expect from pinhole surgery, the recovery process is very important to attend to.

Some of the benefits of this non-invasive procedure include no cutting or sutures, minimal swelling and discomfort, a faster recovery time and instant results. In fact, many patients resume normal activity within 24-48 hours after surgery, save for your oral routine and care. You will want to be as careful as possible with your gums after your procedure to ensure they heal properly.

Dr. Cabrera will provide detailed instructions for the care of your teeth post-operation. You can also expect to come in for follow-up appointments to track the progression of your healing process.

The Pinhole Technique is the best way to treat gum recession, and If you would like more information about soft tissue grafting, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Why Pinhole Surgery Is Important | Chicago Dentist

Smoking, grinding, poor hygiene, hormonal changes, and even medications can affect your overall oral health as you may think. Gum recession is not a cosmetic issue, it’s something that can weaken your periodontal arch as your tooth sockets loosen. When you progress in the cycle of gingival recession, the gums begin to pull away from the teeth. More than simply loosening teeth, it can cause them to become misaligned, lost, and hinder your ability to maintain proper oral hygiene.

The benefits of pinhole surgery are that it is non-invasive, meaning the pain is minimal and recovery is quick. Patients do not need to employ anesthesia and will come out of surgery with fewer wound sites than the previous technique.

The Pinhole Technique is the best way to treat gum recession, and If you would like more information about soft tissue grafting, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Receding Gums: What To Know | Chicago Dentist

As gums recede, they pull away from your teeth and expose the root over time. Not only can this cause pain, it creates pockets between the two and along the gum line. It makes your beautiful smile susceptible to decay gum disease and tooth loss. This is when the problem has gotten out of hand, and you have a gingival recession.

Some things that can lead to gum recession are aggressive brushing, teeth grinding, misalignment, gingivitis, and genetics. Of course, some things are preventable and others are predetermined, but it’s important to control what you can. Speak with your dentist about your oral care habits and health history to assess your risk, and give you tips about how to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

If you would like more information about soft tissue grafting, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Minimally Invasive Gum Recession Treatment | Chicago Dentist

We are dedicated to providing patients with the best possible experience no matter the procedure. It is important to us that each patient gain a thorough understanding of what their treatment will entail from beginning to end. Procedures such as gum recession treatment have historically been an unpopular one, as it has been invasive one. Today we are proud to offer patients a much less invasive means of correcting their receding gum line.

Periodontics practices have utilized tunneling procedures for a long time as they allow for the use of small incisions. This practice has found its way into gum recession treatment, and we are proud to employ this method. This means of correcting recession reduces recovery time and discomfort for the patient. 

A major shift in this procedure is the use of dissolvable sutures used to stabilize the surgical area, allowing the patient to return to their daily practices, and eliminating the need for follow-up visits. We have noticed our patients enter, and recover from treatment more pleasantly, and making them comfortable makes us smile.

If you would like more information about soft tissue grafting, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Pinhole Surgical Technique: What You Need to Know | Chicago Dentist

Pioneered by Dr. Chao, the Pinhole® Surgical Technique is a new way to repair gum recession through a pinhole-sized incision, rather than having to cut through the tissue. This new technique will not only reduce the discomfort of grafting surgery but cuts down recovery time as well.

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions by patients:

How common is gum recession?

While the desire to do something about one’s receding gums was less common than the problem itself (due in part to the expense, discomfort, and recovery time), the issue is fairly common.

How long can I expect the standard gum grafting procedure to take?

The standard procedure requires cutting out a graft of the gum from the palate and grafting it to where it’s needed. To delicately cut and remove the graft tissue and attach it with sutures takes about an hour to an hour and a half for just one or two teeth. It’s the recovery time that would take a while, up to two or three weeks. With Pinhole Surgical Technique, there is no gum grafting anymore. A pinhole is made by a needle, so there’s no scalpel or cutting at all. Then we shift the tissue down with very little trauma to the tissue. This reduces procedural discomfort, operation time, and recovery.

Will I need another procedure in a few years?

The Pinhole Surgical Technique is expected to be permanent.

If you would like more information about Pinhole Surgical Technique, call Dr. Peter O. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Understanding Gingival Recession | Chicago Dentist

We all do our best to care for our teeth and gums to maintain our oral health and beautiful smile. Yet, gingival recession (aka gum recession), carries a number of underlying factors that cannot be as easily recognized as the recession itself. Most people consider the aesthetic appearance of our smile when discussing recession, but by that point, it’s likely the underlying cause has gone untreated for a long time. Your dentist will assess your need for a gum graft and the probability of success after a graft against several factors such as how your teeth are moving and the rate of recession.

Here is an example of a patient’s experience with a tissue graft:

The patient is a 32-year-old female who does not like to smile because of her appearance when she smiles. When the lips are retracted, we get a better understanding of how much recession there is throughout her mouth. In 2005, we successfully reconstructed the tissue that had receded using a minimally invasive approach with connective tissue grafts. The patient did not wear her night guard as recommended to keep her teeth from shifting.

She returned 5 years later because of an increased recession occurring on the front right central incisor. All of the other areas had remained stable except for this tooth. On closer inspection, we get a better understanding of why the one tooth continued to recede. Without the protection of the appliance, the front tooth continued to shift out of the bone, causing the loss of the supporting bone and leading to loss of tissue.

If you find that you are dealing with gum recession, it is important to contact your Chicago dentist as soon as possible to treat this issue.

If you would like more information about gum recession, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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You Have Receding Gums, Now What? | Chicago Dentist

Receding gums can change the look of your gorgeous smile over time, and for some, this may degrade their confidence. Receding gums is a natural phenomenon that occurs as we age. Yet, the procedure to correct the issue has long been an invasive process. That is until the revolutionary Pinhole Technique was created, and adopted by our practice.

When you embark on correcting gum recession, your dentist aims to rebuild lost tissue and cover the roots to prevent infection. Addressing recession, and its associated implications are paramount to correcting existing issues before they worsen. In the 1990s, Dr. Cabrera published an article in The Journal of the American Dental Association in 1995 titled The Connective Tissue Graft, and later reprinted in The Canadian Dental Journal discussing the connective tissue graft that had long been the industry standard procedure.

So, what is the Pinhole procedure, and how does it work to address receding gums? A small puncture creates an opening on either side of the roof of one’s mouth, or behind the molars. Tissue is then secured to recessed areas with very fine stitches. This procedure is much less invasive, requiring only over-the-counter medication to address any pain a patient may experience after treatment.

Stop hiding your beautiful smile due to gum recession. Dr. Cabrera is an experienced practitioner of the Pinhole method, allowing individuals with receding gums to regain their confidence to show off their smiles.

For more information about receding gums or the Pinhole method, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com today.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.