When Do Gum Grafts Become Necessary?

A dental surgical procedure that helps correct gum recession’s effects is called a gum graft. The process is quick and relatively straightforward, where gum grafting in Dorval, QC, removes healthy gum tissue from your mouth roof and uses it to build your gums in the receded area.

You can have gum grafting for medical or aesthetic purposes to give you a beautiful smile. In addition, some people need the procedure for exposed tooth protection from additional damage and repair of existing damage.

Gum recession occurs gradually, making it challenging to realize you are affected by a severe problem. If you don’t receive gum recession treatment early, the problem eventually causes tooth loss making you susceptible to receiving artificial teeth with implants or bridges.

The Gum Grafting Procedure

Different kinds of gum grafts are available, and the procedure you need depends on the severity of your damage and your individual requirements. Your dentist near you will discuss the techniques available to decide which option suits your needs the best. When starting the surgery, the dentist administers local anesthesia to numb your mouth to ease discomfort. The dentist might also lift existing gums away to expose the tooth root for cleaning. Depending on your unique needs, you might receive suggestions for three different kinds of gum grafts. They are:

• Connective Tissue Grafts: When performing connective tissue grafts, the dentist removes tissue from your mouth roof making a flap and taking the issue from beneath the top layer. They stitch the tissue of the existing gum tissue to hide the exposed tooth root.
• Free Gingival Grafts: if you have thin gums and require extra tissue to enlarge them, the dentist recommends free gingival grafts when they remove tissue from the top layer of your mouth roof and perform the gum implant into the existing gum area.
• Pedicle Grafts: If you have excess gum tissue near the exposed tooth, you might prefer pedicle grafts because the specialist takes tissue from the gums around or near the tooth needing treatment. The professional partially cuts the tissue without removing all edges to stretch it up or down to cover tooth root exposure and keep it in place with stitches.

Preparing for Gum Grafts

After you and your dentist have considered all options and determined the optimal surgery, no preparation is involved before the procedure. However, you must have a trusted family member to drive you to inform your appointment. The pain medications you receive during your process make you incapable of operating vehicles after surgery.

You will find it comfortable to return home immediately after your surgical procedure. The dentist will discuss after-care instructions with you to ensure you recover quickly from the gum graft.

Gum Graft Recovery

The discomfort you might experience from the procedure is minimal, depending on whether the specialist used gum tissue from a tissue bank or your mouth. If tissue were obtained from a tissue bank, you would feel less pain than tissue from your mouth roof.

Recovering from gum grafting procedures requires a couple of weeks but may take longer in some cases. In addition, you receive a prescription or suggestions for over-the-counter painkillers to help manage discomfort.

The dentist’s after-care instructions suggest you avoid brushing and flossing at the surgical site and use a special mouthwash to control plaque buildup. You must take the antibiotics prescribed to prevent infections and avoid strenuous activities. You might find it challenging to have crunchy and complex foods. Therefore the specialist suggests you have soft and cool foods such as ice cream, pasta, eggs, yogurt, and soft cheese. You must avoid smoking or quit the habit if possible to protect your oral and dental health.

After receiving gum grafting, your teeth might experience some sensitivity, especially to hot and cold foods. You find relief from the sensitivity by using desensitizing toothpaste or mouthwash. You can return to school or work the following day of your procedure.

You must follow up with your dentist to assess the healing progress and enable the dentist in Dorval, QC to remove stitches if necessary. Your gums will appear different after the procedure and might also feel tighter and firmer.

Gum grafting procedures become essential to restore worn-out gums and protect them, besides improving the appearance of your smile. Different gum grafting procedures are available but are straightforward, with minimal risk of complications. You might feel some pain after the operation but will make a full recovery in a couple of weeks.

If you have receding, excessive or thin gums and consider gum grafting, Clinique Dentaire Dorval provides these therapies for many patients in Dorval. Scheduling an appointment for a consultation with the practice will help you improve the appearance of your gums for medical and aesthetic purposes.