If you look in the mirror and your teeth appear to be longer than usual or your gum appears to be unusually small and extra sensitive, then your gum might be receding and you might need a gum graft.
A gum graft is an extensive dental procedure used to fix gum recession. It's performed by a periodontist, who is a dentist that specializes in treating conditions that affect the gum. Here's what you need to know about what a gum graft is and what to expect from the procedure.
A gum graft is a dental procedure primarily used to fix gum recession, and stop you from losing more gum tissue. It involves grafting new gum tissue to the part of your mouth where the gum is receding.
During a gum graft procedure, a dentist will remove tissue from the roof of your mouth or a part of your mouth with healthy gum tissue and attach it to the part of your mouth where the gum has receded.
There are three main types of gum grafting procedures:
A gum graft procedure can cost anything between hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on the extent of your recession, how much graft you'll need, and if you'll be needing tissue from a donor.
Gum graft procedures typically follow the following steps, says Leena Palomo, DDS, MSD, a professor of periodontics at Case Western Reserve University.
A gum graft is an outpatient procedure which means in most cases, you won't be kept overnight. However, if you drove to the procedure, you should make arrangements for someone else to take you home. This is because the effect of your sedation might not have completely worn off.
After the procedure, you need to take care to keep the site of the grafting undisturbed. Many of your eating and lifestyle habits will be altered until your gum heals properly.
Eating hard foods like apples and corn is discouraged. Before you go in for your procedure, it's a good idea to stock up on foods that will be easy on your gums and won't affect your healing process.
The following foods are great examples of foods to eat after getting a gum graft procedure:
You'll also be given a list of post-operative instructions by your periodontist. It's important to follow these instructions so your gum graft can heal swiftly and properly. The most common things you'll be asked to do include:
After the procedure, you can expect the grafted gum to heal in a few weeks. You shouldn't expect to see results immediately, as the newly grafted gum needs time to heal properly. The graft may appear a different color at first , but it should blend into your natural gum color over time.
"Although the gingival recession defect is immediately visible after the surgery, most people are discouraged from disturbing the site for the first few weeks. Within the first month you can see your new beautiful smile and enjoy restored function," says Palomo.
You might also be prescribed some antibiotics to help prevent infections and over-the-counter or prescription painkillers depending on the extensiveness of your procedure and how much pain you might be in.
A gum graft is a necessary dental procedure for people who are experiencing gum recession. Getting a gum graft prevents the tissue from continuing to recede and exposing the root of your teeth which can lead to tooth decay.
There are different types of gum graft procedures, but they all follow the same basic steps, which are removing healthy tissue from either the roof of your mouth or a healthy gum and attaching it to the thinning tissue.
Speak to your periodontist to find out which procedure is best for you. They'll be able to make an informed decision based on the extent of your recession and any other personal needs you have.
