Distinctive Dentistry of Naperville

The Causes
This page will discuss the cause of the recession that is seen prior to and after developing gum disease (periodontitis). There are some cases where gum infection occurs after recession has occurred, but that is where the gum disease is the result of the problem, not the cause of it. Patients maybe unaware of any signs of periodontitis (bleeding gums, redness, looseness of teeth) and then they wonder why they have gum recession. Contrary to what some people have been told, most recession is not caused by patient neglect. It is usually the result of the lack of thick, tough tissue which borders where the gums meet the teeth. This thick, tough tissue is called Attached Gingiva.

There are cases when patients cause their recession by brushing too hard, but in most cases, the patient should not feel guilty regarding the cause of their problem. Recession is usually something to which the patient has been pre-disposed.

The causes of Gingival Recession: Thin, Fragile Tissues vary and may be described as:
a. Prominent Roots of the Teeth
b. Muscle Attachments
c. Associated with Orthodontic Treatment
d. Trauma (physical damage) to the Gums

• 1. Prominent Root of the Teeth
     When a tooth erupts into the mouth, it should be surrounded by a layer of bone. If the bone is of a normal thickness, then it causes the developing gum tissue (which will cover the bone) to develop as a thick, tough layer of tissue. Nature designed this tissue to be tough in order to withstand the forces of chewing food hitting the gums.

     If the developing bone is thin or absent on one side of the tooth (usually the lip or cheek side) the gum tissue that develops will be thin and fragile and not be able to withstand the normal forces that are applied to it from chewing and proper brushing.

• 1. Muscle Attachments
     The mouth is a series of muscles which give you not only the ability to chew, but also to move your lips in ways such as “puckering up” your lips for a kiss. Some of these muscles originate under the lips and skin and have muscle attachments which insert into the gums — usually not right where the gums meet the teeth.

     If the attachments are right on the margin of where the gums meet the teeth, or if the attachments are very large, and especially if the roots of the teeth are prominent, there is the potential for recession.

• 1. Associated with Orthodontic Treatment.
     Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment may have recession treated before they begin their orthodontic treatment, during their orthodontic treatment or after they have completed their orthodontic treatment. The primary problem with recession that is associated with orthodontic treatment is that many times the patients do not have heavy, thick layers of bone over the roots of the teeth which are to be moved.

     If the teeth are very crowded before orthodontic treatment, the only way to put the teeth into a good alignment may be if the roots of the teeth are made more prominent. The finest of orthodontic treatment cannot overcome the lack of enough space in the jaw where the teeth could be moved without making the roots of the teeth more prominent. This is especially true when you consider how many parents do not wish for the orthodontist to extract teeth as part of the orthodontic treatment plan! There are also circumstances where recession will still occur even after some extractions were done.

     Perfect orthodontic treatment cannot overcome what nature did not adequately provide!!

• 1. Trauma
     Trauma is “physical damage” to the gums where too much force is applied to the gums. The gums then “wear away” since they can’t tolerate this excessive force. The two major examples of trauma are:(Trauma will be discussed in great detail in a future posting)
     

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  1. Toothbrushing Trauma.
  This is where the patient either brushes too hard, too often or with too hard of a brush (only a “soft” bristled brush should be used). Most patients are unaware that their dental habits can be to rough and causing irreparable damage t their gum line.  While there are surgical techniques for repairing the gum line, the body does not re-grow the tissue that surrounds and protects the base of the tooth.

2. Trauma from a Removable Partial Denture.
Patients who wear a removable partial denture risk recession to the gums usually on the tongue side of the lower teeth. If the partial denture fits against the gums too snugly, it will irritate the gums or “strip” the gums away from the teeth. A removable partial denture that has been worn for years or a new denture that “hurts” on the gums or “creates pressure” may increase the chances of getting recession.

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