<p>Yes, DS is off to first year of college in less than two weeks. Last week, at check-up, the dentist referred him to a peridontist for a receding gum problem. 4mm receding. After discussion, we decided to wait and see if it is a stable situation, but what if it gets worse? (Son thinks it looks bigger tonight!)</p>
<p>Does anyone have any suggestions for alternative therapy, other than a tissue graft?. There really isn’t time to do the surgery, plus the soft diet, and two follow up visits. DS isn’t up to doing it on his own, and I’ll have to go home to Asia at the end of August.</p>
<p>I’ll be calling the peridontist in the morning to ask more questions, and am working on getting an additional dr. to monitor the situation in the college town when we get there next week.</p>
<p>First, I suggest that you guide your S and help him figure out how to obtain the best treatment. He probably isn’t up to doing this on his own because he knows you’ll do it for him. As a young adult who’s headed away to college, he needs to quickly learn how to do things like this on his own. Since he’s mature enough and smart enough to go away to college, he clearly has the capability of learning how to take care of his medical concerns.</p>
<p>The earlier we teach our students how to take care of their health needs, the better. This particularly is important with males, who tend not to take care of their health needs as adults unless their wives do it for them. I think this situation exists because females naturally learn how to take care of their own health needs because they approach on their own medical professionals to get help with birth control and pregnancy. Most young adult females don’t want Mommy to take charge of such personal things.</p>
<p>Your S needs to be the one to call the periodontist, and to take notes on the answers. You and S can go over the questions beforehand. Your S also needs to use a search engine to find out as much as possible about his gum problem.</p>
<p>I made the mistake with my older S of making all of his medical appointments before he went to college. He is 23 now, and except for a job-mandated physical hasn’t seen a doctor or dentist since leaving for college at age 17.</p>
<p>I handled things with my younger S differently, having him make his medical and dental appointments from the time he was 18, and guiding him through the process until he learned how to do these things.</p>
<p>I had the same thoughts as NSM. The first thing you should do is put your son in charge of this problem. He can invite you to appointments in case you have any questions that he forgot to ask, but he should be setting up appointments, calling dentists near his school, and talking to the peridontist.</p>
<p>If your son doesn’t see how he can get the surgery now, he should ask his dentist and peridontist for other options and do research online.</p>
<p>Finally, if his school offers a week off for Thanksgiving, would he be able to get the surgery then? It would end up being 9 days off with the weekends. That sounds to me like enough time for most dental procedures, but I don’t know anything about grafting.</p>
<p>H just had tissue grafts. Did the dentist say what the problem was? Sometimes it is an issue of brushing wrong–brushing too aggressively down on the gums, instead of up toward the tooth, or not using a soft enough toothbrush. 4mm seems like a lot for an 18yo., so I don’t know if gently brushing the gums up toward the tooth would help at all. I’m sure your dentist will give you advice. </p>
<p>BTW, H had been told for years that he needed grafts, and it didn’t really get worse quickly or cause him any problems (he’s in his mid 40s) so I’m not sure how urgent it is that your son gets this done right away. Ask the dentist if he can wait until next summer. </p>
<p>My 19yo S doesn’t make his own appointments. I suppose a lot of young men depend on mom–until they get married–then their wife takes care of it ;)</p>
<p>I had the tissue grafts - unbelievably painful. As for brushing - I used a Sonic type toothbrush to prevent overbrushing and I’d been using one since they first came out.</p>
<p>So, I looked for an alternative to avoid future gum problems - I did not want to have tissue grafts again! I began using Toothsoap after reading about it somewhere. I used to have plaque problems - not anymore. It’s worth giving it a try, especially if you are going to wait to see how his gums look at his next checkup. Here’s their website:</p>
<p>And I would recommend your son use a Sonic type toothbrush when possible or the softest brushes you can find. Sometimes the soft brushes are difficult to find in the stores. My dental hygienist usually saves the softest sample brushes they receive for me and then I look for the same ones at the store.</p>
<p>As to being 18 and how to treat them - recent research has indicated that 18 year old brains are NOT fully developed adult brains. There are cognitive and development issues. The research has not been widely disseminated in the popular press. Hopefully universities (which are conducting many of the studies) will eventually incorporate this information in their transitional programs for freshmen as well as in their training for staff members who work with incoming students. And, we, as parents need to be aware of this research so that we understand why it may be difficult to get them to take care of their own medical and dental issues!</p>
<p>I’ve had two of these, the first one when I was 29 or 20. The second one was last year, so, many years apart!</p>
<p>I suppose it depends on the doctor, but my operation last year was not painful at all. However – since I had no pain, I just did my normal activities, including yoga. I think it was due to the ‘head down’ poses, I bled into my sinuses, and my face was swollen and black and blue for 3 weeks. Not good! If s has to have the surgery, make sure he rests for a couple of days. I did the soft diet, but did not go to the second follow-up.</p>
<p>I have been told by dentists for years that I was ‘brushing wrong’, but the oral surgeon says that isn’t the whole issue – it’s the shape of some peoples’ teeth and jaw. </p>
<p>He may be able to wait on the surgery, but might be self-conscious now that he’s aware of the problem! It won’t get worse that fast, he can probably wait until next summer (but get a professional’s opinion on that).</p>
<p>Through college my mother always made our dental appts. (or else I’d never have gone), and it hasn’t hindered my adult ability to make appointments for myself and family for the past 20 years. Past is not necessarily prologue.</p>
<p>As an 18 year old college student, I think that college is the perfect time for students to begin handling their appointments. My mother always called for me until this year. College students will often need to make their own appointments at their college health center, so making appointments at home is a natural progression. Further, parents can’t really have any discussions with medical professions about their child who’s over 18, especially over the phone when the child isn’t there to expressly allow it. It doesn’t make much sense for parents to call to make an appointment if the parent can’t even ask questions over the phone at the same time. </p>
<p>More than simply making appointments, though, the important thing is for your son to become in charge of his own health. If he has a medical problem, he should be the one driven to research it without depending on you doing it for him. As a mother, you’ll of course carry on your own side research, but it’s important for him to play the largest role in his own health and medical care. He may, for other medical issues, have more information than you do or have private problems/questions that he doesn’t wish to share. By learning now, he’ll be able to easily and naturally take charge if he has a problem that he would rather handle more privately.</p>
<p>For what its worth, I would not trust the opinion of one dentist and one periodontist before submitting to surgery at age 18. Dentistry is notorious for inconsistency in diagnoses and treatment, as well as for performing unnecessary procedures for $$.</p>
<p>I have had 4mm receding gums for at least 15 years, and they have not worsened. In fact, at some appointments over the years, I was told they improved to 3mm. In any event, they have never caused me any pain or tooth loss.</p>
<p>Just something to consider before jumping into surgery.</p>
<p>Mom of a 21 yo (TODAY). I agree with having the student making appts, after the first couple it gets easier. When son was in elementary school, the dentist was worried that son had short gums(I can’t remember the term), I am not positive receding was the term but graft was the probable solution. The dentist didn’t feel the surgery was necessary them but he wanted us to know there was a possibility. The dentist stressed hygiene to son over the years and at one point had him use whitening strips for a disinfectant effect. Son never needed the surgery but I would agree with a second opinion, maybe prevention is still possible.</p>
<p>Having had children with numerous tooth/jaw issues I would also STRONGLY suggest a second opinion. Dentistry has come to be almost “an art” and each dentist has his or her way of diagnosing/designing treatment.</p>
<p>In terms of an 18 year old handling appointments and overall medical care I agree. However, I believe that it is reasonable to stick to standard physicals/eye exams/dental cleaning. I would not expect an 18 year old to be able to handle on his or her own all of the questions/concerns/options that would be part of gum surgery. Not sure I would trust my husband. Should the parent be in charge of it all, no but neither should the 18 year old.</p>
<p>I’ve had hugely receded gums for years and years with no problems. No plaque build up, teeth are still fine. I do see a graft at some point in my future, if my teeth become unstable - but until my dentist tells me so, I stick with my twice a year cleanings (and always get compliments on my dental hygiene). Your son does not need to hurry off and do anything, although the dentist should go over proper brushing techniques to make sure that your son isn’t worsening the problem. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the input, everybody. I especially appreciate the personal experience and advice. I (the kid is otherwise occupied) have found some helpful info on the Mayo Clinic website, and a couple other good med. sites online. After the initial panic, we have settled down. Son is now lined up with a dentist (she sounds great) in his new town, just a ten minute bus ride from campus. She can see him the week before orientation, so things are looking more manageable now.</p>
<p>I can go on for days about this, but Ill give a simplified summary:</p>
<p>Recession can be caused by:
Aggressive brushing
Bite issues
Gum disease
Orthodontic movement
Dental work beneath gum line
Genetic predisposition</p>
<p>Beneath each tooth, there should be a band of attached gum tissue. If this band is of adequate thickness & depth, recession will not cause tooth loss and can be monitored. If this band is considered inadequate, a gum graft is necessary. The goal of the graft is to increase the amount & thickness of this band, not necessarily to cover the root (though that can be done at same time if esthetic issue). So it is possible the amount of recession may be the same even after surgery, but will be protected from worsening by the graft. So the key question to ask is Do I have enough attached gum tissue? If answer is no, graft should be done sooner rather than later to prevent further recession/tooth loss. If yes, recession is not a serious issue.</p>
<p>Oh, and as a parent, I would want to be majorly involved in the decision making process for something like this for a college student.</p>
<p>I had this done when I was 19 and in college. Granted, my mom found the periodontist (a referral from the dentist), but I made the appt and went through the whole process without (sniffle) any motherly nursing. I missed two days of class (had the procedure done on Thursday afternoon and missed Friday and Monday classes) and was on a liquid diet for about a week or so. The graft is the worst part - no matter what you do, you can always feel the roof of the mouth!!! And anything in the mouth just feels inordinately huge. </p>
<p>Should this end up being necessary, just make sure your son has someone to take him/bring him home, he will be doped up. And to pick up the prescriptions for antibiotics and painkillers. I had wisdom teeth extractions and the graft for the receding gum. Healing was longer for the graft (about a full week of discomfort vs. 4 days), but I don’t remember the “operation” for either being too bad (gotta love that IV drip!!).</p>
<p>Almost 25 years later, the skin grafted tooth looks fantastic. And I only use soft toothbrushes!!! Sorry I don’t remember what the level of recession was, but it was beyond just noticeable.</p>
<p>I had the grafts done and feel it was worth it. Wish I had not put it off so long. My periodontist was very professional and expert. Now I have less hot cold sensitivity pain and I always floss. The exposed tooth is NOT a good thing once the gums recede where tooth should not be hitting air…Healing went great. Gums are still receded but much less extremely. I was 49 when I did the surgery but should have done it at 35.<br>
Was told this week at dentist to never aim water pik upward toward gums, too as it can damage gumline.</p>