Gum recession is a common dental problem that causes concern among many people, but because of its gradual occurrence, most people don’t realize they have recession until the first signs appear. Two telltale signs of gum recession include tooth sensitivity or noticing a tooth that looks longer than normal. (Typically, a notch or “pocket” can be felt near the gum line.)

Healthy gums are critical to both oral and overall health, as we’ve discussed previously so it’s not something you want to ignore. Regular check-ups with your dentist can help mitigate ongoing recession since it will likely be caught in its early stages. There are also treatments that can repair the gum and prevent further damage.

Clinically, gum recession is the process where the borders of gum tissue surrounding the teeth pull back, exposing more of the tooth or even the tooth’s root. (This is where the “sensitivity” factor comes into play.) When gum recession occurs, “pockets,” or gaps, form between the teeth and gum line, making it easy for disease-causing bacteria to build up. Left untreated, the supporting tissue and bone structures of the teeth risk damage, eventually resulting in tooth loss.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to gums receding, including:

• Periodontal Disease: Bacterial gum infections can destroy both gum tissue and the supporting bone holding teeth in place; periodontal disease is the primary cause of gum recession.
• Genetics: Some people may be more susceptible to gum disease. In fact, studies show that 30% of the population may be predisposed to gum disease, regardless of how well they care for their teeth.
• Forceful or Aggressive Tooth Brushing: If you brush your teeth too hard or the wrong way, it can cause the enamel on your teeth to wear away and your gums to recede.
• Poor Dental Care: Conversely, inadequate brushing and flossing allows plaque to turn into tartar, which can lead to gum recession.

Our Six Tips to Improve Gum Recession Include:

1. Good oral maintenance, including proper brushing, flossing and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash, twice daily.
2. Maintaining a balanced diet with adequate amounts of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.
3. Try using probiotics for two-three months to improve your digestive health.
4. Keep juices, teas and acidic drinks to meal times only
5. Ensure lunch is nutritious – include green leafy vegetables to boost body alkalinity and improve the quality of after-lunch saliva
6. Try not to eat or drink anything for a couple of hours after lunch each day — this gives your teeth time to interact with undiluted, natural saliva, which helps protect your teeth’s enamel.

The best way to help prevent gum recession is to regularly visit your dentist to monitor your oral health. If you have questions about gum recession or are concerned that you are looking “long in the tooth,” ask Dr. Meyers during your next visit.

Thanks to technological advances, dental patients today have several choices when it comes to selecting materials to fill cavities. They can choose between amalgam and composite fillings, which are often referred to as “silver” and “white,” respectively, or tooth-colored porcelain fillings.

Depending on the type of filling needed, and in concert with your dentist, making the choice is easier when you understand the differences of each material. Here’s the rundown:

Amalgam

Amalgam fillings, while reliable and time-tested, are being used less frequently due to the fact that composite materials have improved tremendously. These “silver” fillings are really silver amalgams containing a mixture of silver-tin alloy, copper, and mercury. They have been used for 150 years and are inexpensive and not technique-sensitive. They can last for two decades or longer.

The safety of the mercury in amalgam fillings is a question that has often been raised. Mercury is used in amalgam because it helps make the filling material pliable. When it is mixed with an alloy powder, it creates a compound that is soft enough to mix and press into the tooth. But it also hardens quickly and can withstand the forces of biting and chewing.

Many studies on the safety of amalgam fillings have been done. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluated this research and found no reason to limit the use of amalgam. The FDA concluded that amalgam fillings are safe.

“FDA has reviewed the best available scientific evidence to determine whether the low levels of mercury vapor associated with dental amalgam fillings are a cause for concern,” the agency writes. “Based on this evidence, FDA considers dental amalgam fillings safe for adults and children ages 6 and above.”

There are ongoing reviews evaluating the safety and effects of dental amalgams. The FDA does caution that if you are allergic or sensitive to mercury or any of the other components of amalgam, that you should choose another type of filling.

The World Health Organization has recommended that dental amalgam be phased out as part of an effort to reduce human exposure to mercury.

Composite

A composite filling is tooth-colored and therefore more esthetic, but the advantages are more than just cosmetic. Composite fillings are more conservative, meaning they can sometimes be placed with less tooth removal, according to the American Dental Association. They can also be used in smaller areas whereas an amalgam filling has a minimum size requirement. Additionally, composite fillings do not cause tooth staining over time.

The ADA notes, however, that composite fillings tend to have a shorter life span and require a completely dry environment, which can be difficult in some patients with above average saliva output or sensitive gums that bleed. However, when composites are placed correctly, they can last just as long as amalgams.

Composites can also be more expensive than amalgams and some insurance companies may cover composites only up to the price of an amalgam, and then require the patient to pay the difference.

Porcelain

Porcelain is used for larger restorations when much of the tooth is missing. It is used for inlays, onlays (also called “partial crowns”) and full crowns. Porcelain combines beauty and strength, reinforcing teeth when traditional fillings are not an option. The all-porcelain solution requires less tooth removal than traditional porcelain fused to metal crowns and contains no metal. New ceramic materials are durable and less prone to breakage than older ceramic materials, according to the ADA.

Inlays are restorations that are smaller than crowns or onlays, as they do not cover the biting surface of the tooth. Onlays partially cover the tooth and crowns conceal the entire tooth surface above the gum line. Many offices can now make these restorations in one visit, which is more convenient for the patient.

If you are in the market for new fillings, speak with Dr. Meyers to discuss what option best fits your needs.

There’s no denying the cost of a trip to the dentist can sometimes bust the budget, especially when the treatment involves intricate work like extractions, veneers and other cosmetic procedures.  So, when an offer comes along promising “discount” dental treatment, wrapped into an exotic holiday, more and more Americans are considering making it a package deal, but often without thinking about the consequences.

However, while it’s a practice that may definitely be cheaper in the short term, it’s also costing people dearly down the track. Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are all a part of a growing dental tourism industry. Patients Beyond Borders, a company that books travellers’ surgery holidays to Mexico, the Caribbean, Thailand and other exotic locales, said the growing popularity of ‘Dental Tourism’ often comes down to cost. For instance, being fixed with a set of clear braces in Southeast Asia is almost half the price it is here at home.

The company claims that in order to avoid disaster, dental travellers should do their homework, only use internationally accredited practices and consider the hygiene and skill of the dentist. They say they recommend only approved surgeries which they have inspected, however the onus remains on the patient to do the research — despite living half a world away.

It’s a risk, many dental practitioners — including Dr. Meyers — say isn’t worth it. In America, you’re guaranteed to be seen by a qualified professional, not to mention if something goes horribly wrong you’re covered by your insurance or Medicaid. And, dental practitioners in the States must, of course, speak English. If something goes wrong in a foreign country where English is not the first language, what happens next? Certain infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and HIV may be contracted when proper preventive hygiene protocol is not followed. In America, dentists conform to stringent regulations ensuring patients are kept safe and not infected.

The most comprehensive, complex and professionally challenging of procedures are often completed in stages. An initial part of the procedure is performed, allowed to heal, and then followed up with a second or even third stage of the process. During these overseas trips, many times, what would be multi-visit procedures in the US are conflated into single visit procedures. This single sitting instead of multiple treatments may actually be medically dangerous. There are many stories of ‘Dental Tourists” who have had to get botched procedures corrected here at home, with corrective surgery far more expensive than what they went overseas to get done in the first place.

There are so many places in life where one can save money and cut corners. Your health should never be one of them. One could find oneself coming home looking worse that when one left, or potentially ill or physically harmed.

Consider too, that most dentists today have payment plans for more extensive and expensive treatments. We certainly would recommend discussing such a payment plan with your dentist, and taking your vacation separate from the dental work.