Frequently Asked Questions

Receding gums are gums that have pulled away from a tooth, leaving its delicate root exposed. This also creates small spaces where plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, can collect. As a result, receding gums don’t grow back. Keep reading to learn what you can do to treat receding gums, even if they won’t grow back.

1. Use an electric toothbrush without pressure.
2. Brush your teeth correctly, at least twice a day.
3. Floss daily.
4. Massage your gums.

Gum recession can’t be reversed. This means receded gum tissue won’t grow back. However, mild gum recession doesn’t necessarily put your mouth at increased risk of gum disease. You may need to have occasional deep cleaning treatments called “scaling and root planing” to treat gum recession.

Gums do naturally recede with age, which is why many people think that there’s really no way to stop receding gums from occurring. The truth is, however, that gums may recede for a number of reasons, including overaggressive brushing, inadequate brushing and flossing, tooth grinding (bruxism), and gum disease.

Brush your teeth for at least two minutes at least twice a day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove plaque and debris from your teeth and along the gum line. Depending on how vigorously you brush, a medium- or hard-bristled brush could damage your gums, root surface, and tooth enamel.

After examining your mouth and X-rays, your dentist looks somber and delivers the bad news: Your gums are in such bad shape you’re going to need a rather invasive-sounding procedure called “deep cleaning.” You wonder if it’s really necessary. …Deep cleaning is officially known as scaling and root planing.

The best ways to prevent plaque from forming is to stick to good dental habits. Your dentist will scrape and clean your teeth so they’re free of plaque and tartar. They may also perform a fluoride treatment, which can prevent and slow the growth of plaque bacteria and buildup of tartar on your teeth.

Since tartar has a yellow color, having it removed from your teeth may result in a whiter, brighter smile without the need for additional whitening treatment. Once your hygienist finishes removing the tartar, they will polish your teeth with a special motorized polishing tool.

Lasers can be used to treat periodontal disease. Current controlled studies have shown that similar results have been found with the laser compared to specific other treatment options, including scaling and root planing alone. Scaling and root planning is a traditional non-surgical therapy used to treat periodontal diseases.

The PerioLase® laser is used as part of Laser Periodontal Treatment to remove harmful bacteria and diseased tissue from the gum pocket by passing a laser light between gum and tooth. The laser uses heat to strip away the diseased gum.

Yes and no. Each laser has different wavelengths and power levels that can be used safely during different periodontal procedures. However, damage to periodontal tissues can result if a laser with an inappropriate wavelength and/or power level is used during a periodontal procedure.

Similar to the benefits seen in arthroscopic surgeries, periodontal laser therapies are less invasive, less painful, and offer faster recovery. The only laser-based surgery with FDA clearance for True Regeneration™ to regenerate tissues lost to gum disease and “peer-reviewed” science is the LANAP® protocol.

It is important to beware of advertising that sounds too good to be true because it very well may be. A dental professional can help you separate facts from the hype.

Gum contouring can cost anywhere from $50 – $350 per tooth. Dental insurance may cover some of the cost if the periodontal plastic surgery procedure is medically necessary, but not if the procedure is purely for cosmetic reasons.

An FDA-cleared laser treatment called the LANAP® protocol offers a less painful, more successful treatment alternative to conventional surgery. LANAP=LAR is the only scientifically, research-proven methodology that results in true periodontal regeneration, new bone growth, and gum tissue reattachment.

The success of the LANAP® protocol is rooted in laser physics and the unique interaction between the tissue in the mouth and the variable pulsed wavelength of the PerioLase MVP-7 1064 Nd:YAG dental laser. Simply put – the wavelength targets the diseased tissue without harming healthy tissue.

Studies on LANAP® procedure show positive results, such as less tooth loss after laser surgery, as compared to traditional surgery. It also has been shown to increase new tissue attachments between gum and bone after treatment, and aid in gum regeneration for periodontal patients.

Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. Laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP®) is a surgical therapy for the treatment of periodontitis, intended to work through regeneration rather than resection. This therapy and the laser used to perform it has been in use since 1994.