Gum graft surgery, or a free gingival graft, is a dental procedure for treating both thinning gums and recession. Gum grafting covers exposed, sensitive teeth roots and adds volume to your gum line, therefore improving your overall oral health. Recovery usually takes several weeks, but it might take longer. Gum grafting has a high success rate and may reduce your risk of severe gum disease.
What is a Free Gingival Graft?
A free gingival graft is simple dental surgery. It will correct gum recession, a condition when your gums pull away from your teeth and then exposes the roots. Exposed teeth roots will increase your risk of tooth decay, sensitivity, and bone loss around the teeth. Gum grafting simply replaces the missing tissue around your teeth and improves your overall oral health.
A periodontist quite often performs gum grafting. A periodontist receives three additional years of specific training after graduating from a four-year dental school.
Who Needs to Have Gum Grafting?
Your dentist will recommend gum grafting if you have gum recession. With many cases, receding gums are a symptom of severe gum disease, but you can also be genetically prone to thinning gums. You can also cause gum recession by brushing too aggressively.
How Common is a Free Gingival Graft?
Gum grafting is a common periodontal procedure performed. If your dentist suspects that you might need gum grafting, they will refer you to a periodontist for an evaluation. Your periodontist will check the health of your gums and also measure the pockets around your teeth. They will also check how much recession you have around each tooth.
Depending on the severity, your periodontist might first want to monitor the recession. Or they could recommend proceeding with gum graft surgery. Your periodontist will discuss your options with you in detail during your consultation.
What Happens During a Free Gingival Graft?
There are a variety of gum grafting techniques and materials used. Periodontists can take tissue from your palate, the roof of your mouth, and move it to the area of need. In some cases, they may use a substitute grafting material, which can be purchased from a licensed bone and tissue bank.
Gingival Graft Recovery
Free gingival graft recovery might take one to two weeks, but the recovery will vary from person to person. It is usually more comfortable with donor tissue instead of taking the graft from the palate, or roof of your mouth.
The immediate area is usually tender for a few days. You might want to refrain from strenuous activity or exercise for 24 hours after the procedure, but usually you can return to your usual activities the following day.
The pain of the gum graft fades quickly, but there might be sensitivity to hard foods and hot or cold drinks for a few weeks. With a free gingival graft taken from the palate, the discomfort can feel similar to burning the roof of your mouth. Over-the-counter medications are usually sufficient to manage any discomfort. Soft foods are also recommended for several days during free gingival graft healing.