Recession
Receding gums in Greenwich, CT: recession can be stopped
The realistic goal with recession is to halt it and manage the sensitivity, and that is achievable in nearly every case once we identify the underlying cause.
How urgent is it?
Routine visit
Not urgent. Worth measuring now so that in a year we know whether it is still progressing or has stabilized.
Opening hours
Mon–Tue 8a–7p · Wed–Thu 8a–5p · Fri 9a–2p
What this usually means
The causes we see most often
01
Brushing too hard, side to side
A stiff brush scrubbed horizontally strips gum tissue at the neck of the tooth, usually worst on the side you brush with the most force.
02
Gum disease
Inflammation destroys the attachment between gum and tooth, and the gum line follows the bone downward.
03
Naturally thin gum tissue
Some people simply have delicate tissue over prominent roots, and it recedes even under normal, gentle use.
04
Clenching and grinding
Repeated flexing at the neck of the tooth is associated with both recession and the notches that often accompany it.
What to do right now
Before you get here
- 01
Switch to a soft brush today, and hold it more like a pen than a scrubbing brush.
- 02
Brush in small circles at the gum line rather than back and forth across it.
- 03
If cold is the problem, use a sensitivity toothpaste and dab a little onto the exposed necks last thing at night.
- 04
Take a photograph now so you have something to compare against in six months.
What we would do
At the appointment
We measure the recession tooth by tooth and record it, then determine from the pattern whether the cause is mechanical, inflammatory, or a combination of both.
Treatment starts with removing the cause, whether that is technique, deposits below the gum, or a night guard where grinding plays a role.
Exposed roots that are sensitive or notched can often be covered with bonding. Where recession is more severe and still progressing, a graft is the right conversation, one we would have together with a periodontist.
How we fix it
The treatments this usually leads to
Q & A
What patients ask us about this
Not on their own. Grafting can cover a root surgically in the right case, but for most people the honest plan is to stop the progression and treat the sensitivity that comes with it.
Recession alone does not mean losing teeth. Recession combined with continuing bone loss is what threatens them, and that distinction is exactly what we measure during your visit.
Generally better, because a pressure sensor helps stop you from scrubbing. Technique matters more than the brush itself, so let it do the work rather than pushing it along the gum.
Where we are
211 East Putnam Avenue, Suite 2-6, Cos Cob
Minutes from central Greenwich on East Putnam Avenue, with parking at the building.
Patients travel to us from
Describe it in your own words when you call. We will tell you whether it needs us today.