Gum Graft Surgery: What You Need To Know

When you think about cosmetic dentist procedures your mind probably goes straight to veneers or teeth whitening. However, there are a number of other procedures a cosmetic dentist can provide for you if you are unhappy with your teeth's appearance. Gum grafting is just one of those procedures. Gum grafting is done when not enough gum tissue is covering the teeth. This may be due to periodontal disease or genetics, but it is always unsightly. If you feel like you don't have enough gum coverage, working with a top cosmetic dentist to get gum graft surgery might be right for you. You should know a few things about gum graft surgery before you decide to have the procedure done.

Who Is Right For Gum Graft Surgery?

Anyone who is uncomfortable with their gum's appearance can be right for a gum graft. Those people who are suffering from gum recession due to periodontal disease, as well as those people who naturally have less gums. People who smoke should avoid having gum graft surgery until they have quit, as smoking can prevent the gum graft from healing. If the root of your teeth is showing or there are gaps in your  mouth due to gum loss, gum graft surgery can help you .

Types of Gum Grafts 

There isn't just one type of gum graft, instead there are a few different options when it comes to restoring your gums with grafts.

The first way that a gum graft is done is through using connective tissue only. Underneath the surface tissue of the roof of your mouth there is connective tissue. For this procedure, a flap is cut in the roof of your mouth and connective tissue underneath the surface tissue is removed. This tissue is then attached to your gums, surrounding the exposed area, and the roof of your mouth is stitched back up.

The second way that a gum graft is done is through using surface tissue. Instead of cutting the connective tissue underneath the surface tissue, your cosmetic dentist will remove the surface tissue directly from the roof of your mouth, where it is then attached to the area lacking in gums. Since the tissue is removed directly from the roof of the mouth, it cannot be stitched up like in a connective tissue graft.  There will be a small wound on the roof of your mouth that might take some time to heal after the graft. 

Another option for gum graft is the use of a biomaterial. If you don't have enough healthy tissue to use for your gum graft, your cosmetic dentist might opt, instead, to use a biomaterial that mimics natural tissue. This can only be used if you have enough natural tissue to attach the biomaterial to. 

If you have large gums, but they are receding, the cosmetic dentist might opt to take the tissue from the gums. This is called a Pedicle graft. A small flap is cut in the gums, so that part of the upper gum remains attached and then pulled down to cover the root of the tooth and then sewed onto the gum. 

Recovery 

Most gum grafts are successful and will heal in 14-21 days, but you need to do a few things during recover to ensure that it is. First, you should not pull your lip away from your mouth to look at the graft site. Each time you do this you put strain on the graft site, and it could cause it to pull away and not heal properly. 

Your cosmetic dentist should instruct you to not floss or brush around the gumline until the area has healed completely, as this can prevent the graft from fusing properly. Instead, the dentist will give you a special mouth rinse that helps prevent plaque build up that you should use daily. 

You also need to avoid excessively hot foods, as well as eat soft foods, for a few weeks following the graft to ensure that it isn't damaged. 

Gum graft surgery is an easy, relatively painless way to give you the gums that you've always wanted. If you don't have enough gum tissue, talk with a cosmetic dentist at a clinic like Art of Dentistry Institute about whether or not gum graft surgery is right for you.