Dr. Kirti Chopra

By Kirti Chopra, DDS, FAGD — General dentist, Smile Design Studio by KC, Rittenhouse Square, Center City Philadelphia · Kois Center Graduate with Honors Gum recession is the gumline pulling back from the crown of the tooth and exposing the root. It is common, and it often has more than one cause. Research links it to thin gum tissue and, possibly, to inadequate oral hygiene, orthodontic treatment, and restorations near the gumline. The evidence on toothbrushing is inconclusive.  When recession is stable and there is no disease, monitoring is a recognized approach. Surgery to cover exposed roots is an option when the risk of progression is higher or when appearance is a concern, and the research shows it can reduce recession depth in suitable cases. Many patients notice recession as sensitivity, as a tooth that looks longer than its neighbor, or as a notch near the gumline. It can be unsettling, and it raises two questions: why is it happening, and does it need treatment? The resear...

By Kirti Chopra, DDS, FAGD — General dentist, Smile Design Studio by KC, Rittenhouse Square, Center City Philadelphia · Kois Center Graduate with Honors A dental treatment plan is a proposal, and you are entitled to understand it before you agree. The American Dental Association's code of ethics says a dentist should inform the patient of the proposed treatment and any reasonable alternatives, in a manner that allows the patient to become involved in the decision. The most useful questions to ask cover what the diagnosis is and what is causing it, what the plan is based on, what the alternatives are (including monitoring), why the steps come in a particular order, how long the work should be expected to last, and what it will cost. Many people agree to dental treatment the way they agree to a car repair: someone with more knowledge says what is needed, and it is hard to know what to ask. That is understandable, and it is fixable. A sound plan can usually be explained in plain langu...