The Essential Guide to Gingival Masks: Procedures, Results & Benefits

What is a Gingival Mask?

A gingival mask is an affordable removable prosthetic device that is shaped like your natural gums. This prosthetic is suitable for people getting treatment for various gum diseases as it mimics the appearance of gum tissues, hides tissue damage, and covers your exposed tooth roots to give you a more beautiful smile.

Silicone gingival veneers are soft and pliable and made from acrylic, composite resin, porcelain, and silicone-based materials that can cover the exposed tooth root.

Why are Tooth Roots Exposed?

Exposed tooth roots are often a sign of untreated gum disease, receding gums, or gingival trauma:

Gum Disease

Periodontal disease can wreak havoc on your gums and supporting tooth structure. If gum disease is allowed to progress, it will result in gum recession, the development of gum pockets that harbor bacteria, and gum loss. Such a condition can result in your tooth root being exposed and cause increased tooth sensitivity, a higher risk of cavities on the tooth root, and loss of oral esthetics.

Gum Recession

Tooth roots may also be exposed due to gum recession. Receding gums can also be caused by other factors, including the natural aging process and genetic predisposition.

Aggressive Brushing

People who clean their teeth with a hard-bristled brush are at higher risk of gum recession. That’s because aggressive brushing can injure your gums, leading to recession.

Tobacco Use

Whether you smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco, all forms of tobacco use can cause gum disease, which increases the risk of gum recession.

Teeth Grinding

People who suffer from bruxism (nighttime teeth grinding) or clench their teeth habitually can cause their gums to wear out.

Gum Injury

A blow to the mouth can result in trauma that can expose the roots of your teeth. That is why we recommend you wear a sports mouthguard when participating in high-contact sports.

Misaligned Teeth

Uneven and crooked teeth are more susceptible to gum recession since they are not easy to clean. Hence, they are more vulnerable to gum disease.

How Do You Treat an Exposed Root of a Tooth?

The main culprit causing gum disease is dental plaque. Plaque is a sticky, yellow biofilm that forms on the surface of the enamel after you eat something. With regular brushing and dental care, this plaque is removed. However, if you are negligent in your dental care, plaque can harden into calculus or tartar, which becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

If calculus is not removed, it can cause inflammation of the gums, known as periodontal or gum disease. If you have gum disease, Dr. Monica Crooks recommend gingival scraping to treat it.

What are Gingival Scaling and Root Planning?

Gingival scaling, also known as root planing, is a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment that literally scrapes away the hardened plaque from your teeth. First, a specialized ultrasonic instrument is used to shake loose the larger clumps of tartar from the enamel. We will then use fine and thin scalers to manually scrape off the stubborn tartar from your teeth and underneath the gum line. Next, your dental care provider will polish and smooth the surfaces of your teeth to prevent plaque from easily sticking, and your gums will be allowed to heal.

Note that scaling may not be able to reach the tartar that has embedded itself in gum pockets that are deeper than 5 millimeters. For that, you will have to undergo alternate gum treatment.

How Is Gum Treatment Done?

There are two surgical ways your gums can be treated: gum flap surgery and gum grafting.

Gum Flap Surgery

If the gum pockets are more than 6 mm deep, the tartar cannot be accessed easily. In this case, we recommend gum flap surgery. This procedure involves making a small incision in your gums and pulling them back to create a kind of flap in the gums. Which allows us to reach the tartar stuck on the tooth root and remove it quickly.

Gum Grafting

Once gum disease destroy your gums, there is no growing them back. If your gum tissues have deteriorated, we recommend a gum graft. We will take a sample tissue from somewhere else in your mouth and will suture it in place to replace the lost gums.

This procedure will also cover the exposed tooth root and protect them from plaque.

Gingival Mask Benefits

A gingival mask can keep your exposed tooth root covered in case of gum recession. It can also be used to hide your recovering gums when you are undergoing gum disease treatment. Hence, silicone gingival veneers preserve the health and aesthetics of your mouth.

Can You Eat with silicone gingival veneers?

The great thing about a gingival mask is that you can eat with confidence while wearing it. The mask is very soft and pliable and looks like gum tissue, so no one can guess you are undergoing periodontal treatment. It is simple to put on and remove and is easy to clean.

Dr. Monica Crooks also recommends using silicone gingival veneers when surgical options to restore gums have been exhausted or when the patient is ill-suited for or does not want gum surgery.

If your unattractive gums cause embarrassment to you, a gingival mask can help restore your smile. Reach out to us at (916)922-2027 or request an appointment with Dr. Crooks.