What is Involved in a Gum Graft Procedure?

The gum graft procedure is typically performed to help repair damage caused by gum disease like receding gums. Gum recession leads to teeth roots being exposed, making them more vulnerable to decay and affecting the appearance of the person’s smile. A gum graft involves taking healthy gum tissues from other parts of a person’s jaw and using them to cover up teeth roots or areas with gum tissue damage.

The gum graft procedure

Local anesthetics are administered during the gum graft procedure, so the patient does not feel pain as the dentist harvests gum tissues from healthy parts of their mouth. The main types of gum grafting procedures performed by dentists include the following.

Connective tissue graft: This procedure involves taking a small piece of gum tissue from the top of the patient’s mouth and suturing it to areas that need additional gum tissues. These are the most commonly performed type of gum graft.

Free gingival graft: This type of graft includes taking a small piece of gum tissue from the roof of the patient’s mouth and stitching them on exposed teeth roots. Gingival grafts are typically performed when a patient has thin gum tissues and requires extra tissue to prevent their gums from receding further.

Pedicle graft: During this procedure, the dentist cuts a flap of gum tissue next to the area that needs grafts and uses the flap to cover exposed teeth roots. It addresses gum recession with gum tissues right next to exposed teeth roots. It has the highest rate of success because it does not cut off blood flow from any parts of the patient’s mouth.

Recovering after gum grafts

Patients do not feel significant pain during gum grafting, but they will experience pain and soreness once the anesthetic wears off a few hours later. The soreness can last up to a week following a gum graft. Patients should avoid spicy and hot foods that can irritate areas worked on during the treatment. Things that patients can do to make their recovery go smoother include:

• Stick to soft foods like eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, and soft vegetables
• Avoid hard or crunchy foods that can poke gum tissues, like cereal
• Avoid brushing or flossing the areas worked on for at least three days, since that can reopen the cuts made by the dentist
• Use a saltwater rinse to keep the mouth clean during recovery
• Use over-the-counter painkillers to manage any discomfort
• Avoid strenuous activity for the first few days after gum grafts and get plenty of rest
• Take any antibiotics prescribed as recommended by the dentist

It takes about two weeks to recover after getting gum grafts. The first week of recovery is typically the most challenging part. The cuts made should be mostly healed in a week. From that point on, patients only have to focus on not irritating the areas worked on while they heal.

Explore gum grafts

Gum grafts help protect exposed teeth roots from acids made by oral bacteria. Give us a call or visit our Albuquerque clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://www.roderickgarciadmd.com or call Roderick A. Garcia, DMD PC at (505) 634-5029 for an appointment in our Albuquerque office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: I Think My Gums Are Receding in Albuquerque, NM.