Gum grafting is a vital cosmetic and restorative dental procedure with several far-reaching benefits. The significance of gum grafting lies in its positive impact on both the aesthetic and functional aspects of oral health.
To understand the role gum grafting plays in maintaining and restoring health and vibrance to a person's smile, it's helpful to understand what this procedure entails, when it's necessary, and the advantages it provides.
What Exactly Is Gum Grafting?
Gum grafting is a dental procedure aimed at addressing and preventing issues related to gum recession. During the procedure, a periodontist or oral surgeon carefully grafts tissue from the patient's palate onto the affected area, where it combines with existing gum tissue to restore volume, prevent further recession, and enhance smile aesthetics.
When Is Gum Grafting Necessary?
Gum grafting becomes necessary when gum recession begins to expose (or actually exposes) a tooth's root surfaces. This recession can result from various factors, including periodontal disease, overly aggressive tooth brushing, genetics, or aging.
Exposed roots compromise smile aesthetics. More significantly, however, they make everyday activities like eating or drinking uncomfortable by increasing the sensitivity of the teeth to hot and cold temperatures. Gum grafting serves to halt gum recession and enhances overall oral health by fortifying tooth roots from further exposure and damage.
The Biggest Benefits of Gum Grafting
The most significant benefits of a gum grafting procedure include:
- Aesthetic enhancement. Gum grafting restores the gumline to a proportionate and symmetrical state, which goes a long way in improving the appearance of a person's smile.
- Reduced tooth sensitivity. By covering exposed tooth roots, gum grafting reduces a tooth's sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli.
- Preventing further recession. By preventing the progression of gum recession, gum grafting helps safeguard the tooth root and, by extension, the health of the tooth itself and the surrounding gums.
- Preserving natural tooth structure. Gum grafting helps to preserve tooth structure by preventing further gum erosion, which can threaten the stability of a tooth's foundation, including the underlying bone.
Expertly Preserving Your Smile and Bite with Gum Grafting in Long Beach, CA
If you're in the Long Beach area and looking for an experienced and highly skilled dental team to help reverse the effects of gum recession on your smile and bite through gum grafting, contact dentist Dr. Albert Luan and the Gold Coast Dental Care team to schedule a consultation!