Soft Tissue Grafting Whittier, CA
When you think about the perfect smile, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Most people tend to focus on the teeth. While the teeth are an integral component of your smile, they are not the only factor. You can have beautifully straight, pearly white teeth and your smile may still not be what you had hoped. This is because your gums also play an essential role. Not only that, but your gums also play a role in the health of your mouth. They aid in keeping bacteria away from the roots of your teeth. They also aid in the stability of your teeth. When you suffer gum recession, your smile and your oral health are compromised. At Simon K. Choyee, DDS, Inc., we can restore a healthy, natural gum line with soft tissue grafting.
What Causes Gum Recession?
Your gums can recede for some different reasons.
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Gum disease. Swollen, infected tissue eventually begins to die off, causing the gum line to recede.
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Aggressive brushing. When you brush too hard, it can wear away at your gums.
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Bruxism. Grinding and clenching can wear away at your gum tissue.
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Smoking, or using other types of tobacco products. These habits reduce oxygen levels in your blood and slow blood flow, which deprives your gums of nutrients.
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Your age. |
What is Soft Tissue Grafting?
Soft tissue grafting is a surgical procedure that is performed to restore a healthy, natural gum line, which helps to not only improve the appearance of your smile but your oral health as well. In many cases, we can use tissue harvested from your own body, taken from another area of your mouth. The tissue may come from the roof of your mouth or your surrounding gum tissue. In some cases, we may need to use donor tissue taken from a tissue bank. During your initial consultation, we will assess the extent of the damage to help determine the best type of graft to meet your needs. Donor tissue is sutured over the affected teeth. As you heal, your gum tissue begins to fuse with the graft tissue, restoring a healthy, beautiful gum line.
Types of Soft Tissue Grafts
There are a few different types of soft tissue grafts that may be performed to restore your gum line.
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Connective tissue. A connective tissue graft uses tissue harvested from the roof of your mouth. The tissue is taken from under a small flap. This type of graft is generally used when root coverage is needed.
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Free gingival. A free gingival graft uses tissue taken directly from the roof of your mouth. It is typically used when keratinized tissue is required. This type of graft uses a larger, open surgical wound.
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Pedicle. A pedicle graft uses surrounding gum tissue to cover teeth affected by gum recession. Small incisions allow us to rearrange your gum tissue to cover your teeth while leaving blood vessels intact. Because of this, healing is generally faster. |
Benefits of Soft Tissue Grafting
Soft tissue grafting provides several benefits.
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Your oral health is improved. Proper coverage helps to reduce your risk for tooth decay. Additionally, a newly formed protective seal around your teeth helps to keep bacteria away from the roots of your teeth and your jawbone.
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The roots of your teeth are covered once more, eliminating tooth sensitivity.
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A restored gum line helps to greatly improve the quality of your smile and gives you a boost of confidence. |
If gum recession has affected your smile and your oral health, a soft tissue graft can help. For more information, and to schedule your consultation, call Simon K. Choyee, DDS, Inc. today at (562) 947-4781.
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