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Advanced Care for Receding Gums
We combine 35 years of periodontal expertise with advanced minimally invasive techniques to restore your gum health, eliminate sensitivity, and give you back the confident smile you deserve.
Receding gums silently steal away your oral health and smile confidence, exposing sensitive tooth roots that cause sharp pain with every sip of coffee or bite of ice cream. This gradual tissue loss affects half of all adults, yet many remain unaware until sensitivity strikes or they notice their teeth appearing unnaturally long in the mirror.
At South Hills Dental Arts, we bring 35 years of periodontal excellence to McMurray, offering advanced gum recession treatments that restore healthy tissue and protect your smile. Our comprehensive approach combines minimally invasive techniques with regenerative therapies to address both the symptoms and underlying causes, ensuring your gums heal properly and remain healthy for years to come.
Understanding Gum Recession
Gum recession occurs when the margin of gum tissue surrounding teeth wears away or pulls back, exposing more tooth surface or even the tooth root. This gradual process often goes unnoticed until sensitivity develops or teeth appear longer than normal. According to the National Library of Medicine, 50% of people between the ages of 18 and 64 experience some degree of gum recession.
Multiple factors contribute to gum recession, including aggressive tooth brushing with hard bristles, periodontal disease breaking down gum tissue, genetic predisposition to thin gum tissue, teeth grinding or clenching, misaligned teeth creating uneven forces, tobacco use impairing gum health, hormonal changes affecting gum tissue, and oral piercings irritating gums. Understanding your specific risk factors helps us develop targeted prevention strategies.
Advanced Diagnostic Assessment
A comprehensive evaluation is crucial for successful recession treatment. Our examination uses advanced diagnostic tools to measure recession depth, assess gum tissue thickness, and identify contributing factors. Digital photography documents the extent of recession, while our intraoral cameras reveal details invisible to the naked eye.
Periodontal Charting and Analysis
We perform detailed periodontal charting, measuring gum pocket depths around each tooth. These measurements reveal areas of attachment loss and help predict recession progression. Our 3D X-rays show underlying bone levels, as bone loss often accompanies gum recession. This thorough assessment guides treatment selection and helps us predict outcomes.
The Tekscan system analyzes your bite forces, identifying areas where excessive pressure might contribute to recession. Uneven bite forces can accelerate gum and bone loss around specific teeth. By addressing these mechanical factors, we improve treatment success and prevent future recession.
The Pinhole Surgical Technique
The revolutionary Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST) offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional gum grafting. Through a tiny pinhole in the gum tissue, we use specialized instruments to gently loosen and reposition existing gum tissue over exposed roots. No cutting, suturing, or grafting is required, making recovery faster and more comfortable.
This technique provides immediate cosmetic improvement with minimal discomfort. Multiple teeth can be treated in a single visit, and the lack of incisions means less swelling and faster healing. Patients typically return to normal activities the next day, making PST ideal for busy lifestyles.
Laser Gum Treatment
Our laser dentistry technology transforms gum recession treatment by offering precise, minimally invasive therapy. Laser treatment stimulates gum tissue regeneration while eliminating bacteria that contribute to recession. The laser’s precision preserves healthy tissue while removing diseased areas, promoting faster healing and better outcomes.
Laser therapy offers several advantages over traditional methods. There’s minimal bleeding as the laser cauterizes blood vessels during treatment. Reduced swelling and discomfort mean easier recovery. The laser’s bactericidal effect reduces infection risk and promotes healing. Many patients require no sutures, as the laser seals tissue as it works.
LANAP Protocol
For recession caused by periodontal disease, our LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) protocol provides revolutionary treatment. This FDA-cleared protocol uses specific laser wavelengths to eliminate infection and stimulate regeneration of lost tissue and bone. Unlike traditional surgery, LANAP preserves healthy tissue while eliminating disease.
The protocol involves multiple laser passes at different settings to achieve various therapeutic goals. First passes eliminate bacteria and diseased tissue. Subsequent passes remove calculus and stimulate stem cells in the periodontal ligament. Final passes create a stable fibrin clot that acts as a scaffold for regeneration.
Traditional Gum Grafting Options
When a recession is severe or other methods aren’t suitable, traditional gum grafting remains highly effective. We offer several grafting techniques depending on your specific needs. Connective tissue grafts use tissue from your palate to cover exposed roots. Free gingival grafts thicken thin gum tissue to prevent future recession. Pedicle grafts use adjacent gum tissue to cover recession areas.
Modern grafting techniques minimize discomfort and improve outcomes. We use microsurgical instruments for precise tissue handling. Growth factors from your blood (PRGF) accelerate healing and reduce discomfort. Our virtually painless anesthesia system ensures comfort during procedures.
Alloderm Regenerative Tissue Matrix
For patients preferring to avoid palatal tissue harvesting, AlloDerm provides an excellent alternative. This acellular dermal matrix serves as a scaffold for your body’s own tissue regeneration. AlloDerm eliminates the need for a second surgical site, reducing discomfort and surgery time.
The material integrates with your existing tissue, becoming indistinguishable from natural gums over time. Studies show comparable success rates to traditional grafting with improved patient comfort. This option is particularly valuable when treating multiple recession areas.
Addressing Contributing Factors
Successful recession treatment requires addressing underlying causes. For patients with aggressive brushing habits, we provide instruction on proper technique and recommend soft-bristled or electric toothbrushes with pressure sensors. Custom nightguards protect against grinding damage that contributes to recession.
Orthodontic treatment may be necessary to correct misalignment causing uneven forces on the gums. Our clear aligners can reposition teeth while being gentle on gum tissue. For patients with a thin gum biotype, we recommend preventive measures to strengthen and protect vulnerable tissue.
Ongoing Maintenance Therapy
After treating recession, maintenance is crucial for long-term success. We develop customized maintenance protocols including professional cleanings at appropriate intervals, specific home care instructions, and regular monitoring of gum health. Our hygienists use gentle techniques that clean effectively without traumatizing delicate gum tissue.
We may recommend specific products like prescription mouth rinses, specialized toothpastes for sensitive roots, and tools like water flossers for gentle, effective cleaning. Regular monitoring allows early intervention if a new recession develops.
Plasma Rich Growth Factors
Our use of Plasma Rich Growth Factors (PRGF) technology enhances healing and improves treatment outcomes. By concentrating healing proteins from your own blood, we create a biological accelerator for tissue regeneration. PRGF reduces post-operative discomfort, speeds healing time, and improves the quality of regenerated tissue.
The process involves drawing a small blood sample, processing it to concentrate growth factors, and applying this concentrate during your procedure. Because it’s derived from your own blood, there’s no risk of rejection or disease transmission. This natural approach to healing represents the cutting edge of regenerative dentistry.
Preventing Future Recession
Prevention is always preferable to treatment. We provide comprehensive education on recession prevention, including proper brushing technique with gentle pressure, selection of appropriate oral hygiene tools, recognition of early recession signs, and lifestyle modifications to protect gum health.
Regular dental visits at our McMurray office allow early detection and intervention. Professional cleanings remove bacterial deposits that contribute to recession. Our team monitors your gum health at every visit, identifying changes before they become problematic.
Aesthetic and Functional Benefits
Treating gum recession provides both cosmetic and health benefits. Covering exposed roots eliminates sensitivity, allowing you to enjoy hot and cold foods comfortably. Protected roots are less susceptible to decay, preserving tooth structure. Restored gum tissue creates a more youthful smile appearance.
The psychological impact of recession treatment is significant. Patients report increased confidence when their smile no longer shows long teeth or dark root surfaces. The ability to smile without self-consciousness improves social and professional interactions.
Investment in Long-term Health
Gum recession treatment represents an investment in your long-term oral health. Untreated recession leads to progressive tissue and bone loss, potentially resulting in tooth loss. Early treatment is more conservative, less expensive, and provides better outcomes than waiting until damage is severe.
Our flexible financing options make recession treatment accessible. Many insurance plans provide coverage for medically necessary gum procedures. During your free virtual consultation, we discuss costs transparently and help you understand the value of protecting your gum health.
Choose South Hills Dental Arts for Gum Recession Treatment
When gum recession threatens your oral health and smile appearance, you deserve treatment from a practice that combines decades of experience with cutting-edge technology. South Hills Dental Arts has served Pittsburgh communities for 35 years, providing comprehensive gum recession solutions from our McMurray location. Our integrated approach means you receive complete care under one roof, from advanced laser therapy and the revolutionary Pinhole Surgical Technique to traditional grafting procedures and regenerative treatments using your body’s own healing factors.
Our team takes time to understand what’s causing your recession and creates personalized treatment plans using advanced diagnostic tools like digital imaging and 3D X-rays. With our virtually painless anesthesia system, laser dentistry technology, and flexible financing options, we make gum recession treatment comfortable and accessible. Don’t let receding gums compromise your oral health or confidence. Call 724-395-3995 or complete our contact form to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward restored gum health.
