What to Expect When Getting a Gum Graft
If your periodontist recently told you that you are supposed to undergo a gum graft procedure, then do not panic! While it may sound a little scary, the procedure is sometimes necessary to protect your mouth from the detrimental effects of gum recession, gum diseases like gingivitis, or even tooth sensitivity to cold and cold drinks. It should be understood that if receding gums are not properly treated, then it can cause other symptoms like teeth grinding and clenching, which can give patients sleepless nights.
So, what is gum grafting?
Gum graft, also called a gingival graft, is a procedure for correcting receding gums. A dentist will first remove a small piece of tissue from the roof of your mouth (or anywhere else near a healthy gum tissue). Then the dentist will attach the piece of tissue to the particular area where the gums have receded. It is arguably one of the quickest and simplest gum surgical procedures.
What happens during gingival graft procedure?
Gum grafts are specifically performed by a periodontist – a dentist that specifically treats conditions affecting gums. Before the surgery, the dental surgeon may start with deep scaling; a procedure that deep cleans the gums and teeth to remove bacteria and tartar. The next step is called root planning, which is typically the process of smoothing the surfaces of the teeth’s roots. More often than not, root planning and scaling take place simultaneously.
Once done with the preparatory stages, the dentist then proceeds to explain to the patients the more suitable type of gum grafts to be performed. There are at least three kinds of options to choose from, and it includes the following:
- Free gingival graft;
- Connective tissue graft;
- Pedicle graft;
Let’s now discuss each type in detail:
Free gingival graft
If the doctor recommends this type of gum surgery, then you should expect the doctor to remove a tiny piece from the roof of your mouth and stitch it into the area that needs attention. This kind of graft is suitable if gums are thin or need more tissues to stop the further recession.
Connective tissue graft
Connective tissue graft is one of the most common types of gum surgeries, and it involves opening a tiny flap at the roof of your mouth and removing a connective tissue piece from under the upper layer of tissue. The dentist then proceeds to stitch the removed tissue to the particular section that requires gum tissue.
Pedicle graft
With a pedicle graft, the dental surgeon creates a tissue flap from a section right next to the gum recession. She then covers the section of receding gum tissue using the flap. In other words, local tissue is used to move over the receding area, and so extracting tissue from another part of the mouth is avoided altogether. This kind of graft surgery is considered the most common and most successful. However, to achieve the best results from a pedicle graft, a patient will need to have plenty of gum tissues in the affected areas.
While you may experience moderate to mild pain after any of the above gum surgery options, it takes several days to heal completely. It is highly advisable that you apply an ice pack to the affected area if moderate swelling develops. After one or two weeks, patients can floss and brush their teeth without damaging the surgical site. Remember to schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor to ensure everything is going on well.