What if You Have Exposed Tooth Roots?
Teeth roots can become exposed for a variety of reasons. The primary reason tooth roots are visible is that the gum recedes away from the tooth. Then bacteria can infect the root of your tooth and expose even more of the tooth root.
Recognizing an Exposed Tooth Root
Symptoms of an exposed tooth root often include a visible tooth root, an increase in sensitivity, or swelling of the gum tissue. Other signs can be an increased buildup of plaque accumulating or the development of constant bad breath.
If you notice one of these symptoms, visit your dentist soon. The best way to identify and treat an exposed tooth root is to check your teeth consistently.
Common Symptoms of An Exposed Tooth Root
The signs and symptoms from an exposed tooth root will vary. The most common symptoms include swelling, increased sensitivity to hot or cold, pain, a foul odor from your mouth, and a buildup of plaque on the tooth.
Pain may be the most obvious symptom. Quite often exposed tooth roots can be painful, but not every time. Some exposed tooth roots may not develop any pain at all.
The level of pain will vary depending on the extent and severity of the exposure. It could cause a slight ache in the tooth. Sometimes the pain will be so severe that it can affect certain activities.
Exposed Tooth Root Common Causes
There are a variety of different causes of tooth roots being exposed.
- Gum injuries - The gum tissue can easily be damaged if a tooth has been injured. If the gum tissue has been damaged, it will not hold the tooth properly in place, resulting in an exposed tooth root.
- Gum disease- When the gum tissue is swollen and inflamed, it will recede from the tooth.
- Infections- Tooth root infections will also cause gum tissue to recede. When the gum tissue recedes, the tooth root will become exposed.
- Breakage- A tooth root might also become exposed if there is a break in the tooth.
- Misalignment- Improperly aligned teeth can cause gum tissue to recede, therefore exposing tooth roots.
- Other issues- Sometimes a cyst or cyst-like growth will cause the gum to recede from the tooth exposing the tooth root.
Treatments for Correcting Your Exposed Toot Root
There are several options for treating an exposed tooth root. Some solutions can be temporary, while others are permanent. Your dentist will exam, evaluate, and then recommend which approach is best for you. Some of the more common solutions for treating an exposed tooth root include:
- Gum grafting- Taking soft tissue from the roof of your mouth and suturing it over the exposed root.
- Bonding- Cover the root with resin for protection.
- Root canal therapy- A root canal is used to treat infections. It will treat exposed tooth roots by removing the infected center of the tooth.
- Extraction- It might be the best solution to remove the tooth completely. This can be done with simple extraction if the tooth is decayed and cannot be saved.
- Implant- A dental implant is a tiny titanium post that is surgically placed into your jawbone. Functioning as an artificial root, it is designed to secure, support, and stabilize a false tooth.