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

close up smile red lipstick

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.

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Is Gum Rejuvenation Right For You? | Chicago Dentist

woman receiving dental work

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.

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Pinhole Surgery: What To Expect | Chicago Dentist

Woman face smile with perfect teeth looking you

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.

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Why Pinhole Surgery Is Important | Chicago Dentist

woman receiving dental work

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

close up smile red lipstick

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

Young woman smiling with perfect dental health

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

Woman face smile with perfect teeth looking you

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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Soft Tissue Grafting When There Are No Teeth? | Chicago Dentist

Senior woman in the dental office smiling

The health and appearance of your gums are just as important for your beautiful smile as your teeth. They are said to be the frame around the photo, so maintaining them is vital if you want to show off your pearly whites with pride. We employ a method that allows us to enhance the appearance of your soft gum tissue while also performing a restoration.

Here is a real-world example of an effective soft tissue graft on a patient:

A 35-year-old patient was missing two teeth in the front of her mouth with an aging bridge she found unappealing. While her goal was to simply replace the bridge, a closer examination revealed how an unsightly indentation in the gum tissue is what had compromised the appearance of her bridge. Beyond replacing the bridge, we wanted to enhance her soft gum tissue as well, as it would work to improve her overall oral aesthetic.

Through the use of a minimally invasive tunneling procedure, we placed a collagen graft to build out the tissue and create the impression that a tooth was present. We saw the improvement immediately following surgery, and in the coming weeks, her big more closely mimicked the appearance of real teeth than an artificial solution. Rather than simply reconstructing the tissue, it was important for us to create the illusion that she had never lost her teeth in the first place.

If the appearance of your gums is affecting your smile and confidence, a soft tissue graft may be the solution you have been looking for. A soft tissue graft is minimally invasive, will improve the look of your gums, and allow you to embrace your gorgeous 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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Understanding Gingival Recession | Chicago Dentist

Young woman smiling with perfect dental health

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.