Practicing good oral hygiene at home, in combination with regular visits to the dentist, can help you avoid gum disease.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in Canadian adults. However, most cases of gum disease are actually preventable. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, results from a bacterial infection in your gums. It affects the gum tissue surrounding your teeth.
What are symptoms of gum disease?
While gum disease might not show any symptoms in early stages, there might be other symptoms including:
- bleeding gums
- sore gums
- swollen gums
- receding gums
- purple-red gums
How do we help your gum disease?
We use soft tissue management to help you prevent issues and maintain oral health. During your routine check-up your dental hygienist will check for signs of gym disease. Our team will then develop a personalized treatment plan based on your current status.
We recommend frequent hygiene appointments, deep cleaning, and specialized home care routines, as treatment for gum disease.
What is a gum graft?
A gum graft is a surgical procedure that thickens gums and may be necessary to protect your teeth from the damaging effects of gum recession. Also, you may choose to have gum graft to improve the appearance of your smile.
How long is the procedure?
Depending on your level of gum recession it can take anywhere from 1-2 hours.
Will I experience any discomfort during the procedure?
During the procedure you will be completely frozen. Afterwards, you may receive over-the-counter pain medication.
How long is the healing process?
While it may take a few weeks for your mouth to fully heal, you should be able to return to normal activities the day after surgery. Your dentist will give specific instructions regarding postoperative care which are very important that you follow.
Pinhole Surgical Technique
What is gum recession?
Gum recession refers to the loss of gum tissue along the gumline. This can occur as a result of periodontal disease (gingivitis, periodontitis, advanced periodontitis), the natural aging process, or abrasive habits when it comes to brushing the teeth.
What is the Pinhole Surgical Technique?
The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique is a minimally invasive option for treating gum recession. Unlike traditional grafting techniques, PST is scalpel and suture free.
All of the tools and techniques used to perform the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique were created by Dr. John Chao.
How is the Pinhole Surgical Technique performed?
During the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique, a needle is used to make a small hole in the patient's existing gum tissue. Through this pinhole, special instruments are used to gently loosen the gum tissue. These tools help expand and slide the gumline to cover the exposed root structure. There are no grafts, no sutures, and no incisions needed with the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique. It simply involves the adjustment of the existing tissue.
Royal York Dental, located in Toronto on Bloor St. W, offers a comprehensive range of dentistry services for children, adults, and seniors.
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