Dentist- Receeding Gums

ecclesto

I have had receeding gums for many years now but they seem to be getting worse and are causing me some concern as the base of some teeth are becoming very exposed. I have asked my current NHS dentist if there is anything I can do and he has told me to brush gently! Can I ask another dentist for a second opinion or would a private dentist see me for a first consultation, without charging, to see if there is any cosmetic work that could be done. I have an absolute phobia about dentists so for me to even think about having work done is a HUGE step.

tirednewdad

A private dentist would always charge you, i'm afraid.But it might be worth it to see what could be done.
Your NHS dentists advice is to slow down the rate of recession by brushing them less vigerously, therefore wearing them away. Flossing is also really important in maintaining the gums and giving up smoking

There are procedures out there (which will be done privately, usually by a specailist), where you gums can be pulled back into position with surgery. IMO i don't particulary like the proceedure as although it always looks good for the first few years, it usual seems to relapse back to their original state. I do not know how you would cope with the surgery.

Another option is to disguise the look of the roots by placing coverings on top. This only acts as camoflage though.

ecclesto

Thanks for your advice. I don't smoke and do try and brush them gently but doesn't seem to be working. The idea of pulling my gums up is making my toes curl! I was hoping that there is a cosmetic procedure which might "fill in" the gaps of gum rather like nails being filled in. I am getting really scared that the gums will receed so far that my teeth will fall out! Silly I know but is starting to get me down every time I brush teeth.

tirednewdad

If it is the gap between you teeth which has become more noticable, then a plate can be made which fills in the spaces where the gums used to be. Obviously it is only suitable for certain types of mouth/gaps.
The down side to this plate is that it feels like a denture to wear. Also it is found that people who have "prosthesis- i.e. dentures ect" can cause more plaqueand bug build up, therefore making the teeth more prone to decay and further gum disease- unless oral Hygiene is exemplary.

The most basic option is to try to disguise the look of the receeding gums using fillings and asking the dentist to build the fillings widerer so that the gaps appear smaller

ecclesto

The gaps between my teeth are fine. The gum is receeding below the teeth and so exposing the base of the tooth which should be covered by gum. I am now conscious of when I smile not to show my teeth.

red

ecclesto - i have the same problem and i got some great advice off some members on this forum - one of the things that was pointed out to me is that it could be due to grinding my teeth. i definitely do this, particularly at night, particularly when i am stressed. have you thought that this could be the issue?

Toothsmith

The main thing is to find out WHY it's happening/happened BEFORE treating it.

If you don't know why, then treating is a waste of time, as it might be the wrong treatment.

As red said, grinding is one possibility, but so is gum disease. It's not only smokers that get gum disease.

ecclesto

I do have a guard to stop me grinding my teeth but I fail to see how grinding teeth can cause the gum to receed at the base of the tooth? I have never smoked and my gums started to receed when I was pregnant (31 years ago) and seem to have receeding spurts! It is exposing the yellow part which should be covered by the gum and I am now extremely self conscious.

Toothsmith

ecclesto wrote: »

I do have a guard to stop me grinding my teeth but I fail to see how grinding teeth can cause the gum to receed at the base of the tooth? I have never smoked and my gums started to receed when I was pregnant (31 years ago) and seem to have receeding spurts! It is exposing the yellow part which should be covered by the gum and I am now extremely self conscious.

People think of teeth like steel bollards set in concrete - but they're not like that at all.

When you clench or grind your teeth, particularly at night when you're asleep, and not able to control the force you're putting through them, (and not able to feel the pain of the force you're putting through them), then teeth can bend, and put big forces on the bone supporting them, which is also pretty flexible.

If you imagine the tooth socket as like an egg-cup of bone holding a tooth, the thinnest bit of bone is round the rim (Which is round about your gum line).

All the bending and pressure caused by grinding your teeth causes this thinnest bit of bone to be resorbed by the body, and so the 'egg-cup' shrinks.

The gum covering it shrinks back with it, and your gums receed.

The stress and tension (In the engineering sense) in your teeth from all the bending and flexing is also greatest at that point of the tooth, and so over the years the crystalline structure of the tooth in that area breaks down a bit as well, giving rise to those notch-shaped cavities that look like a lumberjack has been having a go at the tooth.

These cavities are often (mis) diagnosed as 'brushing too hard'.



As I said earlier though, you don't have to have smoked to suffer from gum disease. It is very important that you get an accurate diagnosis of why this is happening to your gums before you have any treatment.

It's pointless treating a bite problem if it's gum disease, and vice versa.

ecclesto

Thank you for that but nearly passed out when you described the process! Will now wear my shield every night to try that and when next go to Dr will ask her perhaps for a NHS referral to see dentist, as mine doesn't seem to be taking me seriously.

Toothsmith

ecclesto wrote: »

Thank you for that but nearly passed out when you described the process! Will now wear my shield every night to try that and when next go to Dr will ask her perhaps for a NHS referral to see dentist, as mine doesn't seem to be taking me seriously.

It's not part of a drs job to find you a dentist. You'd need to find one yourself.