With advancements in modern dentistry including dental implants, dentists can overcome most hurdles. When it comes to replacing a missing tooth, almost anything is possible! Dentists can treat any condition that could have a negative impact before a patient goes ahead with the dental implant procedure, including gum recession.
While a tooth implant and gum recession are not a good combination, patients with receding gums can still opt for implants to replace their missing teeth.
What is gum recession exactly?
Receding gums occur when the gum tissue lifts back or wears away from the teeth, exposing the roots (or implant) below. Gum recession and bone resorption can cause many dental issues and increase the risk of dental implant failure.
Unfortunately, gum disease is prevalent in Australia, with 3 in every 10 adults having moderate to severe gum disease.
Even those without gum disease can experience gum recession for various reasons discussed below.
Before getting dental implants, a dentist will carry out a full examination of the mouth, teeth and gums to assess the condition of your oral health. They will also take x-rays to determine the state of the jaw bone.
If you’re interested in closing a gap in your smile with a tooth implant and you have gum recession, then it’s best to seek advice from your dentist.
What causes gums to recede?
Several factors cause gum disease, including:
Periodontal disease
This term refers to infection of the gum tissue caused by the build-up of bacteria-laden plaque on the teeth and along the gumline. This irritates the gums, causing them to become red and swollen.
The condition becomes more severe without treatment, weakening the gum area closest to the teeth. Spaces or pockets form between the teeth and the gums, trapping germs, leading to more inflammation and swelling. Over time, the gums recede, and the bone supporting the teeth is gradually reabsorbed, causing the teeth to loosen and potentially fall out.
Tobacco products
Smoking leaves behind a sticky residue on smokers’ teeth that is hard to remove, making them more prone to gum disease and gum recession. Smoking weakens the immune system making it harder to defend the body against a gum infection. Furthermore, smoking slows down the healing process once a person has gum damage.
Bruxism
Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) places a lot of stress on the teeth, gums and jaw joints. Without wearing a nightguard to protect the teeth from damage, bruxism will ultimately lead to receding gums and other dental wellness issues.
Poor oral habits
People that brush and floss their teeth vigorously risk doing more harm than good, causing their gums to bleed. Damaging the gum tissue in this way can also lead to gum recession over time.
Tooth loss
If a person has lost a tooth or several teeth, they can experience bone loss and gum recession. Why? Because there is no structure for the gumline or jaw to support.
So what is the connection between a tooth implant and gum recession?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that support a prosthetic tooth or dental crown. A dentist or surgeon inserts a titanium dental implant into the jaw bone beneath the gums and leaves it to integrate with the surrounding bone and gum tissue. The procedure takes several weeks, but it is necessary to anchor the dental implant firmly in place to prevent it from moving and give it the strength to support a prosthesis. Insufficient bone and gum tissue increases the risk of implant failure and means the patient is unlikely to be a good candidate for dental implants (at least initially).
While a patient may at first be deemed unsuitable for dental implants, it doesn’t mean they can’t ever have implants. There are ways for a dentist to prepare the mouth and improve oral health to enable a patient to restore their smile with dental implants later.
Treating gum disease and recession before the dental implant procedure
If gum disease is mild, non-surgical treatments like deep cleaning and root planing can eliminate gum disease and restore good oral health, so dental implants are viable. More severe gum disease may require flap surgery.
Soft tissue augmentation
If you have suffered from gum recession, you may still be able to have dental implants by undergoing soft tissue augmentation.
This procedure utilises donor gum tissue or artificial soft tissue grafts to build up the gum line to simultaneously accommodate an implant and enhance its cosmetic appearance.
Gum recession following a tooth implant
Even if your gums are healthy when you have dental implants, gum disease can recur. Should this happen, it could lead to peri-implantitis, which, in turn, could cause implant failure. This is why maintaining good oral health not just for now but forever is imperative to the health of your natural teeth and your implants.
We can restore your teeth and gums
If you’re struggling from gum disease and gum recession, it doesn’t have to prevent you from having dental implants. We can treat both conditions to ensure your mouth and gums are in good health.
Tooth implants can be life-changing and while they have a high success rate of 95% and above, preventing infection is vital.
At No Gaps Dental, we take patient safety and hygiene extremely seriously. From hand sanitiser to masks, we take every precaution to prevent infection. We use hand sanitiser before and after every procedure or surgery and recommend patients use hand sanitiser at home before touching their faces or mouths. Why not contact the experienced team at No Gaps Dental on (02) 8806 0227 today and restore your smile.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Health Direct.Gov.au – Gum Disease
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/gum-disease
Center for Disease Control and Prevention – Smoking, gum disease, and Tooth Loss
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/periodontal-gum-disease.html
NCBI Resources – Soft Tissue Surgical Procedures for Optimizing Anterior Implant Esthetics
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4466380/