Gum Recession Treatment in Aurora, IL
Gum recession is the gum line moving back and exposing the root of the tooth. The tooth looks longer, there is often a sensitive notch where the enamel ends, and the exposed root — which has no enamel on it — decays more readily than the crown does.
Recession does not reverse on its own. Left alone it tends to continue, and the further it goes the harder it becomes to treat well.
Why gums recede
- Periodontal disease. The most consequential cause, because bone is being lost alongside the gum.
- Brushing too hard. Very common, and usually with a medium or hard brush. Technique matters more than pressure.
- Thin gum tissue. Some people are born with a thin biotype that recedes more easily.
- Grinding and clenching. Repeated flexing at the neck of the tooth contributes to tissue breakdown.
- Orthodontics. Teeth moved outside the bony envelope can take the gum with them.
- Lip or tongue ties and high frenum attachments. A pull on the gum margin that never lets up.
- Piercings. Lip and tongue jewellery rubbing the gum line.
Identifying the cause matters as much as the graft. Grafting a site while the patient keeps scrubbing with a hard brush is treating the symptom.
When to treat it
Not every recession needs surgery. Shallow, stable recession with no sensitivity is often monitored and photographed rather than treated. Treatment is indicated when:
- The recession is progressing between visits
- The exposed root is sensitive enough to affect eating or brushing
- Root decay or a notch has developed at the gum line
- The appearance bothers you, particularly at the front
- There is little or no firm attached gum left to protect the tooth
How it is treated
Connective tissue graft
The most common and most predictable approach. A thin layer of tissue is taken from beneath the surface of the palate and placed under the gum at the recession site, then the gum is drawn over it. Root coverage is good and the colour match is excellent.
Free gingival graft
Tissue taken from the palate surface and placed at the site. Used mainly to thicken tissue and create firm attached gum rather than to cover the root completely.
Donor tissue graft
Processed donor or collagen material instead of tissue from your own palate. Avoids a second surgical site, which many patients prefer, at some cost to predictability in certain cases.
Pinhole and tunnel techniques
Minimally invasive approaches where the gum is loosened through a small opening and repositioned over the root without conventional incisions or sutures. Suitable for selected patterns of recession — your scan and the pattern of your recession decide whether it applies.
Recovery
- Soft diet for one to two weeks; nothing crunchy near the graft
- Do not brush the graft site until cleared — you will be given an alternative routine
- Some swelling is expected; the palate donor site is usually the more uncomfortable of the two
- No smoking during healing. Smoking is the most common reason grafts fail
- The graft settles over several weeks and the final result is judged at around three months, not at three days
If you are not treated
Recession that is left tends to progress. As it does, more root is exposed, sensitivity increases, root decay becomes more likely, and the supporting bone continues to reduce. At the far end, the tooth loosens and is lost — at which point the conversation becomes dental implants and often bone grafting, both of which cost more than the graft would have.
Where recession is being driven by periodontal disease, the disease is treated first. See gum disease treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Will my gums grow back on their own?
No. Gum tissue does not regenerate once it has receded. Grafting is what covers the exposed root.
Is gum grafting painful?
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic. Afterwards the donor site on the palate is usually more uncomfortable than the graft site, and it settles within a week or two.
How long does a gum graft last?
Grafts are generally stable long term, provided the original cause — hard brushing, gum disease, grinding — has been addressed.
Can I avoid surgery?
Sometimes. Shallow, stable recession with no symptoms can be monitored, along with correcting brushing technique and treating any grinding.
Does it look natural?
A connective tissue graft usually matches surrounding tissue well. It is the approach we favour where appearance matters, such as the upper front teeth.
Will insurance cover gum grafting?
Many plans cover grafting when there is a functional reason such as sensitivity, root decay or loss of attached gum. Purely cosmetic cases are less often covered.