The actual procedure should really not hurt whatsoever. Your periodontist may sedate you if necessary. With the sedation you can drift off and not remember anything about the procedure. Even if you are not sedated, your dentist will definitely numb the immediate area, so you will not feel anything throughout the procedure.
The majority of the questions regarding pain from gum grafting are usually about pain after the procedure. The pain will vary significantly with the kind of gum grafting procedure. You might experience discomfort from both the graft donor site, the roof of your mouth, and the graft recipient site, the teeth you are correcting.
The Different Gum Grafting Procedures
There are several types of procedures. They are:
- Free gingival graft – This procedure can be more painful. Many patients will rate it a 6 out of 10 on a pain scale. The reason it is more painful is that the donor tissue is harvested from the roof of the mouth. This leaves the underlying gum tissues exposed, causing pain.
- Connective tissue grafting – This procedure is less painful than a free gingival graft. Many will rate it at a 2 out of 10 on a pain scale. The reason it is not as painful is that your dentist will collect the middle layer from the roof of your mouth and suture close the surface layer, leaving nothing exposed.
- Gum graft donor tissue gum graft (alloderm) or pinhole procedure – The alloderm or pinhole procedure are both similar in regard to pain. Both procedures will use gum graft donor tissue, so the tissue is not harvested from the roof of your mouth.
Gum grafting pain usually comes from the roof of the mouth. This pain can be completely avoided by using gum graft donor tissue. Most of the pain comes from the roof of the mouth, you could also experience some pain from the graft recipient site.
- Free gingival graft – Your recipient site will hurt more than the connective tissue grafting or alloderm or pinhole procedures. The reason is because the incision design is different from this type of procedure than the others.
- Connective tissue grafting and alloderm or pinhole procedure – These will all experience minimal pain at the graft recipient site. This is because of the minimally invasive technique is used to avoid an incision at the graft recipient site.
Most of the pain or discomfort comes during your recovery. Usually, the free gingival graft is associated with the most pain because of the roof of the mouth and also from the teeth area you are grafting.
The connective tissue graft has extraordinarily little pain from the roof of the mouth and minimal pain from the teeth area you are grafting.
Using donor tissue or a pinhole technique allows you to have the least amount of discomfort.
Pain during the procedure will be minimal if you even feel anything at all. IV sedation is advised if you are nervous because you will not remember anything.
Does a Free Gingival Graft Procedure Hurt?
You will be numb during your procedure, so you will not feel anything during the procedure. You will have mild soreness after your procedure, but your periodontal team will give you medications and post-surgical instructions to minimize your discomfort.