Gum disease or periodontitis is an oral health issue that many people worldwide deal with. It's estimated that severe gum disease affects approximately 19% of adults around the world, which is more than 1 billion cases globally. This disease results from bacteria in your mouth that infects the tissues around your teeth, triggering inflammation. It can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth and impact the bones that support your teeth.
Mostly, gum disease leads to tooth elongation or even tooth loss. Experiencing this dental problem can lower your confidence and affect how you smile. However, you can address the issue in various ways. Read on to learn how you can restore your smile after gum disease.
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Go for cosmetic dentistry treatments
A branch of dentistry, cosmetic dentistry aims to improve your smile. It involves the use of modern technology to offer natural-looking outcomes, helping you overcome insecurity about your teeth. On top of that, it boosts your dental health by protecting your teeth from future dental problems.
Cosmetic dentistry procedures include the following:
- Gum grafting: This dental procedure involves treating thinning or receding gums. Ideally, gum tissue grafts involve removing tissues from parts of your mouth and attaching them to the gum area being treated.
- Scaling and root planing: Gum disease is treated by deep cleaning below the gumline. When scaling, your dentist eliminates the plaque in your gum line. After this, they start root planing by softening your teeth roots and allowing your gums to reattach to your teeth.
- Gum contouring: Gum contouring is a cosmetic dentistry procedure involving the removal of excess gum tissues growing above your teeth. Excess tissues can accelerate tooth decay since they trap food particles that may be hard to remove when brushing or flossing your teeth. Costs of gum contouring are between USD$50 and USD$350 for a single tooth or up to USD$3,000 for all your front top teeth.
- Dental veneers: Also known as porcelain veneers, dental veneers are thin tooth-colored materials that can be added to the front teeth to enhance their appearance. You can use them for broken, worn down, misaligned, or discolored teeth.
Before you settle on a particular treatment, consider consulting your cosmetic dentist, so you can set objectives and decide on a suitable procedure. A cosmetic dentist will analyze your gum for any underlying issues and address them before starting the treatment.
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Do a smile makeover
A smile makeover combines various dental treatments to meet your unique dental requirements and enhance your smile.
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Dental implants
Gum disease can significantly affect your gums, making them recede. Additionally, your teeth may become loose or even fall out. In such cases, you might need dental implants. The dentist will insert artificial structures in your jawbone to replace missing teeth.
Dental implants are among the most common solutions for smile restoration. In fact, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, there are nearly 3 million people in the US that have dental implants, this number rising by around 500,000 annually.
You can have endosteal or subperiosteal implants. Endosteal implants are added to your jawbone, with each implant supporting at least one artificial tooth. On the other hand, subperiosteal implants are embedded on top of your jawbone.
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Composite bonding
As its name suggests, a tooth-colored composite resin is bonded to damaged teeth. This kind of procedure helps guard your tooth root that was exposed because of gum recession.
During the process, your dentist:
- picks a shade that matches your natural teeth.
- prepares the surface of your tooth or teeth by applying a conditioning liquid.
- applies, molds, and softens the composite resin material to the appropriate shape.
- treats the material using a special curing light that binds it to the surface of your tooth.
- polishes the tooth to make it look more natural.
One advantage of this procedure is that it's minimally invasive and doesn't need any enamel removal. Plus, it's fast and convenient. Unlike other methods that may require several visits, you can have it done in only a single visit.
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Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening is another popular procedure for a smile makeover. It treats stained teeth caused by dark-colored foods and drinks like tea or even medications.
In addition to replacing lost teeth due to gum disease, your dentist may whiten discolored ones. So, after the procedure, you’ll get to have a brighter and more appealing smile.
Conclusion
A beautiful smile can make you more attractive and approachable and feel more confident. But a dental problem like gum disease can affect it. Thankfully, there are some dental procedures that can help you restore your smile and have healthy teeth.
