As a board certified periodontist, gums are the primary area of specialty for Dr. Beck-Mayo. While your teeth are protected by enamel–the hardest substance in your body–your gums are at the mercy of your oral health. If bacteria, food, and plaque remain on your teeth, your gums will be the first to start to suffer from things like gingivitis, inflammation, gum disease, or gum recession. San Diego patients that are suffering from gum recession may experience a change in the appearance of your smile like long teeth, pain, sensitivity to heat and cold, and greater risk of cavities. If you’re worried about receding gums, make sure that you call Dr. Beck-Mayo today at (858) 635-6700.
How to Get Started with Dr. Beck-Mayo
When you call our office, you’ll always hear a friendly voice on the other end of the line from one of our well-trained staff. We’re more than happy to talk with you about your questions and your concerns about gum recession. San Diego patients that want to move to the next step in the process will need to schedule a time to come into our cozy office for a visit with Dr. Beck-Mayo.
Our San Diego patients absolutely love how gentle and compassionate Dr. Beck-Mayo is with every procedure. Dr. Beck-Mayo will talk with you about your medical history, your symptoms, and then she’ll perform a thorough examination to get a better idea of what’s going on. You’ll be instantly reassured you made the right choice in trusting Dr. Beck-Mayo and her team with your oral health concerns! Dr. Beck-Mayo may also order some x-rays that we can perform right in our office, like a 3 dimensional CT scan. Once Dr. Beck-Mayo has all the information she needs, Dr. Beck-Mayo will begin to develop your custom treatment plan. After answering all your questions, we’ll schedule another time for you to come back for your recommended treatment. Contact us today to get started!
What Is Gum Recession?
San Diego patients can suffer from gum recession because of a variety of causes. While some of them are related to oral hygiene habits, there are some of our patients that may be genetically predisposed to gum recession.
Gum disease
Probably the most common cause of gum recession is gum disease. Without proper dental hygiene and regular dental visits, bacteria and plaque can start to build up underneath your gums which can eventually cause inflammation of the gums, leading to gum recession.
Genetics
About half of all Americans adults will suffer from gum recession to some degree because of their genetics and anatomy. Take a look at your parents’ gums and teeth to see if gum recession runs in your family.
Brushing teeth
Some patients scrub their teeth or floss too vigorously which can cause the gums to recede. Even using the wrong toothbrush or toothpaste can increase your risk of recession!
Hormones
For our female patients, hormonal changes that come with pregnancy and menopause can cause gums to recede.
Tobacco
While smoking can have a huge negative impact on your overall health, it also wreaks havoc on your gums and can cause them to recede.
Grinding
Patients that grind their teeth suffer from something called bruxism. Not only does grinding wear down the enamel on your teeth, but it can also accelerate and worsen gum recession!
Video: Watch our 3D animation video to learn more about gingival recession.
Treatment Options for Gum Recession
San Diego patients have a few different terrific options to treat gum recession depending on the severity and cause of their particular condition.
- Deep cleaning – For our patients who are able to catch their gum recession early, they can treat it with a very deep cleaning of their gums. This treatment is sometimes called root planing or tooth scaling. The goal is to pull back the gums and expose the roots to smooth them out and make it difficult for bacteria to stick.
- Pocket reduction – The “pocket” in your gums refers to the space between the gums and the tooth. When bacteria gets trapped in the pocket, it will usually start an infection or inflammation. With the pocket reduction treatment, Dr. Beck-Mayo removes the infection and then carefully reattaches the gums to the tooth.
- Regenerate gum tissue – Another option is to attempt to regenerate the lost gum tissue. In this option, Dr. Beck-Mayo will again lift the gums and then apply a regenerative material to help regrow the bone and soft tissue that is lost.
- Graft – One of the most common options is to use a soft tissue graft to regrow the gums. The donor site is often the roof of the mouth. The tissue graft is then sutured to the gums.
Dr. Beck-Mayo’s treatment recommendations are always customized with your best interest and health in mind. So call today for YOUR customized plan!
Why Work with Dr. Beck-Mayo for Gum Recession
San Diego patients that work with Dr. Beck-Mayo will get highly professional and personalized dental treatment. Dr. Beck-Mayo is a nationally recognized periodontist that has produced some of the leading research in the field. Her gentleness and compassion have made Dr. Beck-Mayo one of the most in-demand dentists in the country. Make sure you take a look at our Smile Gallery to see her work for yourself.
Call our San Diego office to schedule your gum recession treatment consultation with Dr. Beck-Mayo at (858) 635-6700.
