Thin Receding Gums And Dental Implants – What's Important? Video by Ramsey Amin, DDS

Thin gums area major cause of gum recession and can cause problems with dental implants too.  You are genetically given the thickness of your gums.  When it comes to dental implants…the thicker the gums the better.  This is also true for natural teeth.  This video explains some of the important issues.

When someone has receding or thin gums, I can surgically correct this by a gum graft. So if the gum is too thin, it can be thickened.  Here is a photo of a gum graft I did to cover the root of this long tooth.

 

There are a couple of main issues associated with thin, fragile gums and dental implants.

1. The implant shows through the gums as a grey or grayish tint. This does not look good.
2. The gums can recede causing the bone to recede too.  If this happens, the threads of the implant can show. This becomes a long term issue.

This picture says it all:
Solutions I use: (much more detail in the video)

1. Gum and/or bone grafting before or during the implant procedure to thicken the gums
2. Use of a custom abutment made of zirconia or titanium
3. Proper implant design
4. Proper crown design
5. Precise placement of the implant to begin
6. At the time that I place implants, if possible, I move some of your existing gum from the palate side to the outside of your implant.
7. Platform switching design

As you can see, there is A LOT to dental implant success.  It is not just a screw put in the jaw!  Many dentists don’t bother with the gums and just put the implant in.  That is fine for the short term, but in time, you will probably develop problems.

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com

Comments

[Samuel]

this is amazing, gum issues is is really a lifelong problem though.

[Ramsey Amin DDS]

Hi Sarah,

Complications can and do occur, but that doesnt mean it is the fault of your dentist or you. He will probably "re-graft" the area and place the implant in a few months.

Be patient and it will more than likely work out.

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com

[Sarah Martin]

I am 29 years old and I had a bone graft done in early April on my #7 tooth that I have never had (I have had a marilyn bride in that place for 17 years. My Dentist used mineross as the grafting material. When he opened my gums for the implant a few days ago he was shocked to see that the graft did not work. He said instead of bone it looked like gristle. He said he hasn't seen anything like this in 24 years of doing grafts and implants. Have you ever encountered a situation like this? I don't know where we go from here.
Thanks,
Sarah, Tulsa OK

[Ramsey Amin DDS]

Hi Azhar,

Gum grafts are usually done on a "per tooth" basis. The average cost is about $1100 per tooth as of 2011.

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
www.burbankdentalimplants.com

[Azhar Keenoo]

I would really like to know the approximate pricing gum grafting in the frontal area of my upper jaw...slight gum loss has started...please help regarding