A New Way To Treat A Common Problem At The Dentist

MIAMI (CBSMiami) — No more dreading the dentist, now there's a new quick and easy way to treat a common problem which is being called an important breakthrough.

Brushing your teeth is a routine we do several times a day, but if you brush your teeth too aggressively it can cause receding gums.

Improper brushing can expose the root which causes sensitivity, decay and tooth loss.

"I've learned the hard way. I saw the roots were definitely being more exposed," said Jeff Weiner.  The 39-year-old salesman is among millions who suffer with the common gum problem.  It can also be caused by age, genetics and not flossing.

Gum recession affects 22-percent of people under the age of 30 and 75-percent over the age of 60.

"I heard some horror stories about getting cut multiple places," Jeff said.

Traditional gum restoration involves painful and difficult tissue grafting. To avoid that Jeff turned to dentist Tom George

"It's an amazing technique that is going to revolutionize the way that we as dentists approach gum recession," Dr. George explained.

He uses specially made instruments to do the minimally invasive procedure called pinhole gum rejuvenation.

The instruments allow him to make just a pinhole into the gum, which is numb from Novocain.  Then the tissue is pulled back into normal position and strips of collagen hold the gums in place to facilitate healing.  Dr. George said, "There is minimal pain, no down time, there's no grafting, there are no suturing and there's no cutting with a scalpel."

Jeff said, "It was simple, it was easy." And he said he was able to get back to work and eating normally right away.  "It was really a great experience."

The procedure can cost up to a thousand dollars a tooth, but it's sometimes covered by insurance.

Not all dentists perform the procedure but there are several in South Florida that do. Check with your dentist if you think you might be interested.