Hello! I (25F) have an area of recession that I believe I am more concerned about than my dentist. In order to understand how I got here, I feel that I need to layout my dental work over the years. 1st photo: today 2nd: after 1st gum graft 3rd: after 2nd gum graft
child and adult premolars surgically removed 12 yo
Bottom Canines pulled up with chains on braces 15yo
Braces 15-18yo then permanent bottom retainer
Wisdom teeth 18yo
1st gum graft Jan 2023
2nd gum graft feb 2024
I first noticed the recession late in 2022 while I was actively smoking MJ and vaping. During my first graft, it was my own tissue but I was still actively vaping. It did not take and we waited a year to try again. The 2nd graft was a donor tissue and it also did not take (was not vaping for several months before and after).
I was told by surgeon there could be numerous reasons why I had the recession to begin with: my teeth grinding at night, my permanent retainer and lack of flossing due to it, my frenum was too high (clipped during first surgery), the previous trauma made the area too hard to heal and I swell significantly more than other patients (why it wouldn’t take).
Last summer, I switched dentists and they performed a root planing and scaling to address my gum disease which had never been mentioned by my previous dentist or surgeon. Since then, I have been MUCH better about flossing and using my water pick but I am still concerned that my recession will continue as I have had some very slight sensitivity and minor dull pain in the area recently. I do still smoke MJ and an occasional drunk ciggie as I wanto enjoy life but not lose my teeth by 40. Should my dentist be more concerned or am I just paranoid?? I have a cleaning in June so I plan to discuss this with them again then!