Exposing the neck of the tooth. 6 facts you should know

Tooth roots inevitably begin to become exposed in old age - this process is completely natural and is a reaction to the aging of the body. But old age is far from the only reason for this phenomenon, which spoils a beautiful smile and can lead to other serious illnesses in the future. Root exposure can occur at any age due to disease or pathology.

This article will talk about what to do in a situation where the gum has noticeably risen above the tooth, and you will also find answers to why this happens and what the consequences of refusing treatment may be.

Exposure of the cervix causes severe pain

Our teeth consist of a crown part, which rises above the gum, as well as a neck and root system, which are hidden by soft and hard tissues. The neck of the tooth is the area between the crown and the roots; in fact, it is the transitional part from the crown to the root. On top it is covered by the gum, but if for some reason the gum begins to change its volume and move upward, then it can literally slide off the neck and make it very defenseless against the aggressive environment of the oral cavity, against any mechanical impact.

When the neck of the tooth is exposed, a yellow area appears near the gum

If the neck of the tooth is exposed, it is quite easy to notice upon careful examination near the mirror - you will see a yellow area (this is cement that covers the neck and roots). The cervix itself is very sensitive, it is many times more sensitive and thinner than the enamel, so after it is exposed, you will begin to experience sharp unpleasant sensations, pain from eating sour or salty, hot or cold food. Acute painful sensations can be caused by the daily procedure of brushing your teeth or even just touching a defenseless area with a brush.

Diagnostics

If a patient complains of tooth sensitivity to cold, hot, sweet and sour foods, the doctor may immediately suspect hyperesthesia. The disease can be diagnosed after a visual examination of the patient's oral cavity. During the examination, the doctor may note changes in the structure of the hard tissues of the tooth, as well as changes in the condition of the periodontium. Usually there is a decrease in hard tissue at the cutting edge (front teeth) or on the chewing surface (back teeth).

Differential diagnosis of hyperesthesia lies in the ability to distinguish the symptoms of tooth sensitivity from the symptoms of acute pulpitis. In acute pulpitis, pain is prolonged, pain occurs mainly at night. With hyperesthesia, the pain is short-term, occurs directly from chemical or thermal irritation of the tooth and goes away almost immediately.

Pain is not the only problem that may bother you

With such a pathology, as we mentioned above, the necks of the teeth hurt. However, if you do not think about what to do in a timely manner, the problem will get worse. For example, a pathology can spread to the entire series and become generalized, then treating it later will be more difficult, and it will take a lot of time. In addition, exposing the hidden parts of the tooth will make your smile unattractive, it will lose its aesthetics, which in turn can cause psychological problems and refusal to communicate with others.

Pain also leads to another problem - you cannot eat what you want and cannot eat properly, which in turn is fraught with gastrointestinal diseases, weight loss and bad mood.

Pain impairs quality of life

The exposed necks of the teeth are defenseless not only against mechanical stress and the temperature and hardness of food, but also against the attack of bacteria. Therefore, if you do not start treatment on time, you may develop caries, pulpitis, and periodontitis.

Exposure of the cervix may be caused by gum recession

Gum recession is a pathology in which the oral mucosa begins to change its normal volume, i.e. it atrophies, it becomes smaller, and accordingly, the hidden parts of the tooth are exposed. This phenomenon is dangerous because due to atrophy of soft tissues, the edge of the periodontium also shifts, i.e. the normal position of the tissues that are responsible for holding the tooth in its original position is disrupted.

Sometimes the opposite happens - the gum grows and increases in volume, and hyperplasia occurs. How dangerous is this phenomenon and how to deal with it? Find out from the article on the website.

With gum recession, the mucous membrane begins to decrease in volume.

Why does gum recession occur and the necks of teeth become exposed? In fact, there can be many reasons, and not all of them are as harmless as we would like. Let's look at them:

poor oral hygiene: if plaque is not removed, pathogenic microflora will predominate in the mouth, and bacteria will begin to release large amounts of toxins, leading to tissue inflammation,
atrophic gingivitis: this is an inflammation of the gums, in which blood circulation and nutrition of the mucous membrane are disrupted, resulting in a loss of soft tissue,

Most often, this symptom is a sign of gingivitis.
periodontitis: if gingivitis is not treated, the disease progresses and will lead to periodontitis, which is characterized not only by inflammation and exposure of the gums, but also by destruction of the musculoskeletal system of the tooth,
periodontal disease,
traumatic oral hygiene: for example, you carry it out using an unsuitable brush with hard bristles, an abrasive paste, or you do it too hard - pressing on the enamel and mucous membranes,
cervical caries: if bacteria begin to attack the tooth from above, then there is a possibility that harmful microorganisms will provoke the destruction of the soft tissue of the gums,
incorrectly installed fillings or crowns,
incorrect bite: not only long-term neglect of bite pathologies can lead to gum recession, but also incorrect installation of orthodontic appliances,
abnormalities of the frenulum of the upper or lower lip: abnormally located frenulums can pull poorly attached soft tissues away from the tooth,
internal diseases of the body: for example, diabetes mellitus1, in which the blood circulation of the mucous membrane is impaired,
metabolic disorders in the body: most often the problem is characteristic of pregnant women and women after menopause, adolescents, as well as elderly people (the appearance of gum recession in them can be a purely physiological phenomenon that arose due to age-related characteristics),
individual physiological characteristics: for example, the mucous membrane of the gums is too thin, when due to any mechanical impact they begin to move away from the tooth.

Gumplasty

In advanced cases, conservative therapy does not always help. Then doctors have to perform a surgical operation aimed at:

restoration of a healthy and beautiful gum line;
elimination of symptoms caused by tissue atrophy;
preventing the unit from loosening and falling out.

Gingivoplasty is a flap operation. With its help, it is possible to build up missing tissues. The operation is performed in different ways. The most popular is to take a flap of material from the palate and transfer it to the operated area.

But, if the defect is single (that is, it relates to only one tooth), such serious intervention can be avoided. The dental surgeon simply makes two horizontal and two vertical incisions and displaces the resulting flap by transferring it. After regeneration, the operated area begins to look natural and neat.

Remember: folk remedies are not able to restore atrophied gums. Do not delay treatment at the dental clinic. This is the only way to keep your teeth intact.

Pathology can be calculated by characteristic symptoms and signs

If you see a yellow area at the junction of the crown and gums, and periodically feel sharp pain in this area, then in most cases this indicates that the neck of the tooth has become exposed. What to do? First of all, pay attention to other alarming symptoms that accompany the disease:

swelling of the mucous membrane and bleeding,
pain on the mucous membrane,
hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity) of enamel,
formation or increase in interdental spaces,
accumulation of soft and hard plaque on the enamel and at the junction of the enamel and gums,
visual lengthening of crowns,
the appearance of bad breath that is not associated with eating or smoking.

With pathology, swelling of the mucous membrane appears

Preventive actions

It is unlikely that anything can guarantee absolute protection against the gradual exposure of tooth roots, however, experts in the field of dentistry and periodontology, in particular, have identified a number of preventive recommendations, the observance of which will minimize any risks of recession. Here are some basic rules:

systematically visit the dentist for preventive examinations,
try to get rid of bad habits, eat less sweets and other foods containing large amounts of carbohydrates - the main enemy of healthy teeth,
enrich the diet with fresh fruits and vegetables - when biting and chewing hard fruits, natural cleaning of the enamel occurs,
brush your teeth at least twice a day, rinse your mouth after each meal, use dental floss,
If any suspicious processes appear in the oral cavity, immediately consult a doctor.

Preventive examinations at the dentist will help avoid problems
. Important! If your gums are your weak point, be sure to consult your dentist before purchasing a toothbrush and toothpaste. With increased sensitivity of soft tissues, too hard bristles can cause pain, microtrauma and other problems.

Gum recession is not only an aesthetic problem. In fact, this phenomenon directly signals the presence of serious pathological processes in the soft tissues of the oral cavity. Such changes should alert you and be a reason to visit your doctor.

Barer, G.M. Periodontal diseases. Clinic, diagnosis and treatment, 2003.

If the disease is not treated, you can lose your teeth

We have already found out why the necks of the teeth are exposed. Obviously, the disease requires treatment; it will not go away on its own, but in the absence of measures it will only progress, affecting an increasingly larger volume of first mucous and soft tissues, and then destroying the periodontium and ligamentous apparatus of the tooth. Thus, the pathology will be complicated by atrophy of bone tissue and exposure of the roots, due to which the teeth will lose stability, begin to shift, deform, loosen and fall out.

If not treated promptly, you can lose your teeth.

When the neck of a tooth becomes exposed and hurts, this is a reason to think about solving the problem, because... If this thin area is left unprotected, the tooth can become very fragile and susceptible to chipping; it can simply break as a result of strong pressure or excessive chewing load.

The disease cannot be cured at home

If the neck of the tooth is exposed, then treatment at home is unacceptable. Traditional medicine methods, at best, will not give anything, at worst, they will only aggravate the situation. For such a pathology, treatment should be comprehensive and professional. Therefore, if the necks of the teeth are exposed, then the first thing to do is consult a dentist.

The doctor, first of all, will conduct a differential diagnosis between a wedge-shaped defect and caries, and determine what is causing the necks of your teeth to become exposed. Next, the specialist will carry out professional hygiene and sanitation of the oral cavity, remove plaque and deposits using special tools and preparations (Air Flow, ultrasonic scaler, brushes, floss and paste). Then, depending on the cause of the disease, treatment or a whole range of therapeutic measures will be prescribed.

Remineralization and fluoridation of enamel

When the neck of the tooth is exposed, and this process is still at the initial stage of development, the doctor may suggest that you strengthen the tissues so that they become stronger, less sensitive, and can withstand the attack of bacteria. What will the specialist do? It will apply a useful composition rich in microelements to all visible parts of the tooth.

The photo shows the remineralization procedure

Read the article on the topic: 3 options for how to carry out fluoridation to strengthen the enamel.

Use of medications

Exposure of the neck is often a consequence of gum recession, which occurs against the background of inflammation and insufficient nutrition of the mucous membrane. To restore blood circulation and relieve the inflammatory process, the doctor will individually select medications for you to take orally. It will also be necessary to apply and rinse the mucous membrane, and make lotions. Injections into the gums may be prescribed.

Filling bare areas

The procedure is possible only at the initial stage of the disease, when the pathology is not pronounced and affects only individual units.

Prosthetics

If exposure of the neck threatens fracture or destruction of the tooth under the influence of mechanical loads, then treatment will consist of prosthetic crowns. If the pathology is more of an aesthetic problem and affects the teeth located in the smile zone, then veneers or lumineers can be installed on them.

The defect can be corrected with veneers

Gumplasty

If the aesthetics of a smile is seriously compromised, the pathology is irreversible, and also leads to the inability to eat properly without pain and discomfort, then the doctor may resort to surgical methods. For example, for flap surgery. During the operation, the specialist peels off the gum and moves it to a new place, thereby achieving correction of the position of the mucous membrane.

In case of complex pathologies, a specialist can perform gum surgery

After treatment, the doctor will also be sure to select personal oral hygiene products (brush, paste) and tell you about the correct hygiene technique.

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Yusupalieva K.B. The effect of hyperglycemia on the condition of periodontal and oral cavity in patients with diabetes mellitus. Scientific research, 2017.

Expert “In the fight against exposed tooth necks, doctors use many methods. You may be prescribed physiotherapy, orthodontic treatment, plasma lifting and the use of protective membranes, and frenulum trimming. If pathologies of internal organs are suspected, the dentist may refer you to third-party specialists, for example, an endocrinologist.” Dentist-therapist Tatyana Vitalievna Varlamova

Consulting specialist

Varlamova Tatyana Vitalievna

Specialization: Dentist-therapist Experience: 6 years

Comments

The necks of my teeth are exposed and I don’t know what to do? Is it possible to somehow strengthen the gums at home to solve the problem?

Rita (07/30/2019 at 10:16 am) Reply to comment

Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (08/06/2019 at 08:55) Reply to comment

Hello, the necks of my teeth were exposed, there was not much pain in the exposed areas, I went to the dentist, work was done in those places, but the pain went away. What does this mean? Did you do a bad job as a dentist and need to do it over?

Christina (10.29.2020 at 05:58) Reply to comment

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Treatment with traditional medicine

The practical use of traditional medicine advice is allowed only as an additional therapy and only after consultation with a doctor. Here are some proven and effective methods:

Regular rinsing is necessary to clean and strengthen teeth and gums. The best tincture for rinsing would be a decoction of St. John's wort. To prepare it, you need to grind the dry plant and add water to it in a ratio of 1 to 4, then bring to a boil and leave to infuse for 1 hour. You need to rinse your mouth 2 times a day after basic hygiene procedures.
Compresses. Using compresses will help reduce pain and start tissue repair processes. An effective compress can be made by mixing sea buckthorn oil and olive oil in a ratio of 1 to 1. Then dip a cotton swab into the resulting solution and apply to the problem area for 5 minutes. After which you need to rinse your mouth with water. This procedure will relieve pain.
Massage. A good massage improves metabolic processes in the gum tissue, which promotes rapid healing. Before the procedure, you need to wash your hands, and then lightly massage the gums with your fingertips for 1-2 minutes.

Treatment without qualified medical advice may lead to a worsening of the condition. Therefore, when the first signs of recession appear, you should first see a dentist and then take treatment measures.