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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.