Receding gums is a condition involving the gums pull away from a tooth’s surface, exposing more of the tooth and sometimes the tooth’s root. Often the result of poor oral health habits, aggressive brushing, smoking, and other factors, gum recession affects three of every four adults and since it occurs gradually, typically goes unnoticed until it becomes severe.
Not only does an exposed tooth root look bad, it can be extremely painful and especially sensitive to hot or cold. Left unchecked, gum disease can cause significant damage to surrounding bone tissue and eventually lead to complete tooth loss. If receding gums are a problem for you, your dentist might recommend a gum tissue graft (or gingival graft) performed by a periodontist to protect your teeth from further damage.
Do I need gum surgery?
Don’t run for the hills just yet; gum surgery isn’t as bad as it sounds and it might be the best way to repair the damage and restore your bright smile. The procedure is a simple, outpatient process in which a doctor removes a piece of tissue from the roof of your mouth or nearby gum tissue and attaches it to areas where other tissue has worn away.
Preparing for a gum tissue graft starts with analyzing your needs and matching them to one of the three types of grafts:
Connective tissue graft
This is the most common approach to treating exposed tooth roots. Subepithelial tissue from under the roof of the mouth is removed and stitched to strong gum tissue surrounding the root. The tissue removal site in the mouth is then also repaired.
Free gingival graft
This type of graft follows the same initial approach as connective tissue grafts but instead removes tissue directly from the roof of the mouth and attached to the target area. This grafting technique is popular for people with thinner gums needing additional tissue support.
Pedicle grafts
Also known as lateral grafts, this procedure grafts tissue from gum near the damaged tooth. A flap is cut and then pulled down or over the exposed tooth and stitched into place. This generally works best with substantial available gum tissue.
Variations to these procedures include using graft material from a tissue bank instead of the patient’s mouth, and prescribing proteins to encourage the body’s natural growth of bone and tissue.
The best part about gum surgery is it requires no fasting or radical diet changes; you just show up and when it’s done you can go home. (You’ll need a driver, though; it’s not safe to drive with the pain medications in your system.)
What happens after gum grafting surgery?
The severity of post-surgery pain depends on the procedure. If tissue is removed, you will likely experience a few days of discomfort. Some people describe the resulting wound in the mouth where tissue was removed to be like a burn from eating something very hot. However, it usually heals quickly and prescription pain medications can help ease the blow. It might take up to two weeks for your mouth to completely heal but you can jump right back into your normal routines and work duties.
A couple of things you will have to remember are to practice good oral care and be aware of food intake. For the first week or two after surgery, be sure to eat soft, cold foods that won’t damage the graft. This includes goodies like eggs, yogurt, pasta, Jell-O, cottage cheese, soft veggies, and ice cream. (Yay for that last one!)
When it comes to oral care, don’t brush or floss at the repaired gum line until it has fully healed. Your periodontist will give you a special mouthwash to help control plaque and perhaps antibiotics to hold back infection.
How Should I Care For My Gums After Surgery?
If you experience bleeding, pain, swelling, or bruising after surgery; call your doctor right away. Beyond that, full healing should take a month or so and while there is no guarantee that future gum issues will not develop, grafting surgery is highly successful. What can you do to help prevent gum disease?
Brush twice a day or more with a fluoride based toothpaste
Rinse at least once a day with antiseptic mouthwash
Floss every day
Get regular dental checkups and professional cleaning (twice a year is best)
Eat a well-balanced diet of healthy foods
If you’re a smoker, it’s time to quit
For more information on gum grafting surgery recovery, contact Glendale Periodontics at (818) 423-4172 or glendaleperiodontics.com.
Gum Grafting Surgery
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a serious oral health condition that affects nearly half of all American adults to some degree. Serious cases can require gum grafting surgery to prevent further gum, tooth, and even jawbone damage. Gum grafting is an effective treatment option that could be right for you.
While many might associate periodontal disease with aging, it can affect anyone. Gum disease can vary widely in its severity, so there is a range of other interventions that might be tried before gum surgery.
These could include scaling to remove tartar and bacteria, root planing to address bacteria below the gumline, and antibiotics. Flap surgery can also help combat gum disease. When performing flap surgery, the periodontist makes small incisions in the gums to reach and clean tooth roots.
If gum disease continues to progress or goes untreated, it can eventually cause the gum line to recede. This can affect the aesthetics of your smile but can also expose tooth roots if the gum line recedes far enough.
This allows more bacteria to build up and multiply in the pockets and crevices between your gums and teeth. Those bacteria then cause further gum tissue damage and can go on to affect the teeth and even the jawbone.
If gum grafting is carried out soon enough, it can prevent more serious damage to the jawbone that would require bone grafting to treat. The best way to avoid the need for gum grafting is to visit the dentist regularly so that less invasive treatments can be started as soon as gum disease is identified.
A lack of dental care and other poor oral hygiene factors can lead to gum disease. There are also genetic factors, so anyone with gum disease in their family should take care to keep up with their regular dental checkups. Gum disease starts long before any visual gum recession takes place, so these checkups are the best way to avoid unnecessary surgery in the future.
The Gum Grafting Surgery
Gum grafting is a surgical procedure, but it is a relatively minor one. There are several different types of gum surgery, and your periodontist will be able to determine which one is suitable for your case. Every patient is unique, so your treatment plan will be developed to meet your individual needs.
Each of the different types of gum grafting relies on taking tissue from another part of the mouth and attaching it to the gumline. Once implanted, the tissue will naturally heal and integrate, reinforcing and rebuilding the gumline.
You’ll receive anesthesia during your procedure, which will be carried out at our office. The relatively minor surgery lets you show up and finish in just a few hours, although you’ll need to arrange a drive home due to the anesthesia.
Connective-Tissue Grafts
A connective-tissue graft involves taking tissue from the roof of your mouth, which is called the palate. A flap is cut into the skin palate so that the periodontist can remove a section of subepithelial connective tissue from behind it. This flap is then stitched back into place.
The connective tissue is stitched to the gum tissue around the tooth root that has become exposed. This graft provides effective protection against further bacteria developing at the site.
Free Gingival Grafts
Another type of gum graft makes use of the tissue directly from the roof of the mouth. This thicker tissue can provide even more protection in cases where a patient’s gums are naturally thin or otherwise require more support to reinforce the gumline.
Pedicle Grafts
A pedicle graft relies on tissue from another part of the gums rather than from the palate. When periodontal disease is only affecting a specific area, healthy gum tissue in the surrounding area can be used. The gum tissue near the affected gum line is partially cut away and moved, leaving one edge attached to promote healing and integration.
Gum Grafting Surgery Recovery
Most cases of periodontal surgery have straightforward recoveries with minimal side effects. The inside of your mouth will take some time to heal fully, during which time it may be overly sensitive to hot and cold foods. You may be prescribed medication for pain relief or antibiotics to prevent infection.
You can jump right back into your regular routine during the healing process, with the only real consideration being to watch what you eat. You should stick to soft foods to allow the graft to heal with the least amount of disturbance possible.
You’ll also need to avoid brushing or flossing the affected area. We’ll provide you with a special mouthwash to use in the meantime.
Gum Graft Cost
Most periodontal surgeries are carried out due to an immediate need for gum disease treatment. This makes them an essential periodontal procedure that most insurance plans will cover.
Even when insurance only covers part of the expense of the gum graft, it’s one of the most affordable surgical interventions. Choosing to move forward with the gum graft today can help you avoid more invasive and expensive procedures like jawbone grafting in the future.
No matter what your financial arrangement, you can come to Glendale Periodontics to discuss gum grafting or other procedures. We can work with you and your insurance to develop a payment plan that meets your needs.
Maintaining Your Oral Health
After your periodontal surgery, it’s in your best interests to take steps toward maintaining your oral health. A lack of proper care can cause a resurgence of gum disease. Having experienced gum disease in the past is a major factor in the potential for future issues, so you should implement the best possible oral health routine.
This should include:
Brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste
Flossing daily
Rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash once or twice daily
Keeping up with dental checkups and cleanings
Maintaining a healthy diet
Avoiding smoking
These simple preventative steps can reduce the likelihood of needing further treatment.
Gum Grafting Surgery in Southern California
Glendale Periodontics is a team of experienced professionals who provide a wide range of effective periodontal treatments. That includes gum grafting surgery for periodontal disease treatment. If you find yourself experiencing gum pain or notice your gum line receding, you should reach out to us right away.
We’ll evaluate your unique situation and can provide you with the most effective treatment options available. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for an initial consultation.
Gum Grafting Procedure
Gum recession is an oral health issue that can not only lead to further complications but can be both painful and unsightly. Fortunately, there is a way to treat this condition and protect your oral health – the gum grafting procedure.
A gum graft can return gum tissue to the areas of your mouth where recession has occurred, reducing sensitivity, restoring your smile, and preventing any further issues from developing. And with the help of modern technology and advanced techniques, the procedure is faster, easier, and less uncomfortable than ever before.
Gum grafting is when your periodontist takes healthy gum tissue either from another part of your mouth or from a donor and grafts it onto the area where gum recession has occurred. The result is that the exposed teeth are now safely covered, and the appearance of your smile is more symmetrical and healthier looking.
Why Does Gum Recession Occur?
There are several reasons why a patient’s gums may have receded, some of which are within their control, while others can’t necessarily be prevented. The most common causes of gum recession include the following:
Misaligned teeth
Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Traumatic dental injury
Severe gum disease
Brushing or flossing too hard
Smoking or chewing tobacco
Genetics
Maintaining good oral hygiene and avoiding bad habits like smoking or brushing too hard can help you avoid gum recession, but there are instances in which recession will occur anyway. When that happens, gum grafting surgery is likely the best solution.
What Are the Symptoms of Gum Recession?
There are a few ways to tell if you are suffering from gum recession. The most common symptoms include the following:
Increased Sensitivity
The part of your teeth that lies below the gum line is significantly more sensitive to hot and cold and even sweets. When gum recession occurs, and that part of the tooth is exposed, you may start to feel pain when you have a hot or cold beverage, brush or floss your teeth, or go in for a dental cleaning.
Pain Around the Gum Line
Your gums may become swollen or even red if you have gum disease, which is a leading cause of gum recession. They may also bleed easily when you brush or floss.
Teeth that Appear Longer
With significant gum recession, the exposed tooth can begin to alter the appearance of your smile. If you find that your teeth are looking longer than usual, it’s not because they’re growing but rather because your gum line has receded.
Do You Need Gum Grafting Surgery?
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of gum recession, you may need a gum graft in order to treat it. The gum tissue will not grow back after considerable recession and, therefore, may require tissue sourced from elsewhere in order to reduce sensitivity and restore the appearance of the teeth.
Reach out to your dentist today and tell them about your symptoms. Should they determine that you could benefit from gum grafting surgery in Glendale, they’ll refer you to a periodontist who can provide it.
The Gum Grafting Procedure
When you go in for a gum graft in Glendale, you can expect the following:
Initial Consultation
Before you can receive a gum graft, you’ll have to see your dentist or periodontist for an initial consultation. Once they’ve discussed your symptoms, spoken with you about your medical history, and conducted an oral exam to assess your gum recession, they will be able to either recommend gum grafting surgery or provide an alternative solution.
Preparation
If your doctor suggests a gum graft, they will then fill you in on what you’ll need to do to prepare for it. They will tell you to arrange for transportation to and from the procedure, and they will likely give you a list of foods to stock up on for a quick and successful recovery.
The Procedure
The gum grafting procedure begins with your doctor providing you with a local anesthetic to numb the area. Oftentimes, they will also offer some form of sedation dentistry, which can include anything from nitrous oxide to an IV sedative.
Once the anesthetic and sedatives are administered, your doctor will prepare the site by cleaning it and making a small incision in the gum tissue. Next, they will remove a small section of tissue from the roof of your mouth and then close it up with sutures. After that, they will graft the tissue onto the area where gum recession has occurred.
The entire gum graft procedure can take as little as an hour, depending on how many teeth need to be treated. However, if the gum recession is pervasive and multiple teeth require grafts, it can take significantly longer than that.
Pinhole Surgical TechniqueTM
There is a new form of gum graft procedure Dr. Hendry can provide. This procedure, which is called the Pinhole Surgical Technique, involves creating tiny pinholes in the gum tissue surrounding the recessed area and then shifting that tissue over the exposed tooth roots.
The Pinhole Surgical Technique is faster, easier, and more comfortable than a traditional gum graft and doesn’t require sutures.
Gum Graft Recovery
The time it takes to recover from gum graft surgery depends on the patient, but in general, you can expect it to take about a week or two to recover.
You will be able to return to your normal routine within a day or two, but your doctor will ask you not to do anything that will elevate your heart rate until your mouth has healed some. After a couple of weeks, you should be in the clear.
The gum graft procedure may seem daunting, but with modern techniques, it has become a lot simpler of a treatment with a faster and more comfortable recovery time.
If you’re concerned about any aspect of an upcoming procedure, make sure to talk to the team at Glendale Periodontics, and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.
