How do you fix exposed tooth roots?
Exposed tooth roots happen when the gums have recessed and exposed portions of the tooth root. This leads to sensitive teeth and pain when coming into contact with foods or liquids, especially hot, cold, or acidic foods and drinks. If you notice gum recession in the mirror, or you have symptoms of root exposure, you should consult the dentist as soon as possible, so that they can evaluate the cause of these symptoms and undergo treatment suitable for the problem. There are many different ways to fix gum recession and exposed roots, and these solutions will vary depending on the severity of your case.
The most common solution is surgery. However, there are alternative treatments.
Simple Surgery
If the gum recession is at an early stage, it can be recovered by surgery without a graft. The post-operative period of this modality is much simpler and more practical to follow. In addition to looking at the advancement of the gums, the technique also considers other requirements for satisfactory results, such as favorable tissue biotype and reasonably aligned teeth.
Surgery with autogenous gum graft (your own)
When the gingival retraction is in places with unfavorable prognoses and/or is quite extensive, surgery is recommended using a gingival graft collected from the patient himself. Furthermore, despite the greater possibility of good results, this surgery requires extra dedication from the patient in relation to the post-operative treatment.
Allogeneic gum graft surgery
This technique involves replacing the patient's gingival grafts with a PRF membrane (fibrin rich in platelets and leukocytes) or synthetic materials that imitate human gums. It is an alternative that provides a simpler postoperative period and a simple surgical technique. However, its disadvantage is related to the extra financial costs and restriction of the technique.
Alternative treatments for exposed tooth roots
Your dentist may consider alternative treatments when the surgical technique is impossible or because tissue recession does not cause irreversible aesthetic or functional damage to your oral health.
Desensitization
When the root of the tooth is exposed, it is common for the patient to experience pain and sensitivity when eating cold and acidic foods. Therefore, to solve this problem, desensitizers are used on the affected area. Treatment is simple and generally very efficient.
Dental restoration
In cases that occurred due your way of brushing, it is possible to perform a dental restoration in resin or porcelain. This is an option both for dental aesthetics and for reducing areas of possible bacterial accumulation. However, the technique has to be done very precisely, as it can worsen the problem of gingival retraction.
What happens to untreated exposed tooth roots?
When an exposed tooth root is not treated, the problem does not resolve spontaneously and may worsen, resulting in periodontitis and, possibly, leading to oral bone loss. Therefore, exposure of tooth roots is a problem that you should talk to your dentist about, so that they can look for the cause and carry out the treatment in the best possible way, generating good results and a healthy smile.