What are Gum Grafts?

The gums are the soft tissue that protect the roots of your teeth. In some individuals, this tissue can recede resulting in what is called “gingival recession”. If the problem has gotten extreme, then gum surgeries known as gum grafts may be required to fix it.

Receding gum can be caused by a lack of dental hygiene, or in some cases from brushing too vigorously.

A gum graft is a procedure in which a physician will remove tissue, often from the patients palate, and graft it at the area of missing gum (receding area). The new tissue will take the place of the missing tissue.

Benefits of Gum Grafts

The new tissue, once healed, is able to meld with the old gum tissue and form a new protective layer where the missing layer once was. This not only protects what remained of the existing tissue, but also performs its role in protecting the tooth and tooth root.

Exposed roots can be extremely sensitive, so adding new tissue to cover the root can reduce sensitivity lessening symptoms for the patient.

Procedure

For this procedure, local anesthesia is used to dull and lessen pain at the site where the tissue is removed from. Anesthesia is also used at the graft site. Once the tissue has been removed, it is grafted to the area where the gum was receding. This entire procedure can take up to an hour and a half.

After a gum graft, patients should be patient as the new tissue slowly heals. Upon healing, if proper hygiene and brushing is followed, there is a high success rate that the new tissue will function and appear normally.

If you suffer from gum recession, it may be time for gum surgery. Talk to a dentist at Riverside Heights Dental to have your mouth assessed.