When there is only minor recession, some healthy gingiva often remains and protects the tooth, so that no treatment, other than modifying home care practices, is necessary. In this case, our doctors will often have the patient return one year later to compare measurements and photographs to determine if the recession is progressing.
However, when recession reaches the mucosa, the first line of defense against bacterial penetration is lost. At this stage, no matter how meticulously the patient tries to control the bacteria, there is a greater chance of bacteria penetrating and affecting the underlying supporting bone around the tooth. In addition, gum recession often results in root sensitivity to hot and cold foods as well as an unsightly appearance of the gum and tooth. Also, gum recession, when significant, can predispose to worsening recession and expose the root surface, which is softer than enamel, leading to root caries (decay) and root gouging. So, your gum may have receded for a variety of reasons, including improper tooth position, aggressive tooth brushing or periodontal disease. Prior to treatment, your doctor will help you identify the factors contributing to the problem. Once these contributing factors are understood, a soft tissue graft procedure is often advised to repair the defect and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss.
Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft
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The most common procedure our doctors perform for root coverage and for thickening/strengthening the attached gingiva is called the subepithelial connective tissue graft. This minor surgery, which is considered the gold standard of the soft tissue grafting procedures, takes about 45 minutes per tooth treated. During the procedure, the affected tooth is cleaned thoroughly and a small recipient pouch is created to receive the graft tissue. Then, the palatal donor tissue is obtained in an atraumatic fashion utilizing a tiny incision. This small palatal incision is closed, and the graft is fitted and secured within the recipient pouch, both with suture material that can only be seen clearly with magnification. Most patients report little to no discomfort with this procedure, and follow-up visits are scheduled at approximately 2 and 5 weeks.
Acellular Dermal Matrix
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Our doctors at Tampa Bay Periodontics and Implant Dentistry have been trained in the tunneling surgical technique. This procedure uses medically processed, donated human tissue as a tissue source for the graft. The advantage of this is procedure is that there is no need for a donor site from the patient’s palate. The healing tends to be slower than using tissue from your own mouth and the tissue thickness obtained after treatment is not as much as that when using one’s own tissues. This may decrease the protection for the bone supporting the teeth roots and may have a higher potential for recession to reoccur. This type of grafting procedure is best suited for those who would need multiple treatments with their own tissues due to a limit of the amount of tissue that can be obtained in the palate.
