Gum grafting or gingival graft surgery is a method of treating receding gums. Receding gums is a condition where your gums gradually retract or shrink away from your teeth. The shrinking away of your gums will gradually produce pockets between your teeth and gums and will also gradually expose the roots of your teeth.
Receding gums mar the cosmetic appearance of your mouth and smile and pose risks to your health. The accumulation of food particles, sugar, starches and bacteria in those pockets will accelerate the action of tooth decay and gum disease. Progressing periodontists will expose roots of your teeth, with the result that you may experience increased tooth sensitivity. Receding gums can be caused by periodontists, genetic influences, poor dental hygiene, brushing your gums over-zealously and age.
During gum grafting in Brandon, your dentist will take tissue from your palate (the roof of your mouth) or elsewhere — or even from a tissue donor — and attach that tissue to your gums to cover your exposed tooth roots.
Gum grafting near you can treat one tooth, one tooth at a time in successive procedures or multiple teeth in a single procedure.
How to recover quickly and fully
While every person’s situation is different and every procedure involves specific and individual considerations, a “typical” person who undergoes gum grafting at a dental clinic in Brandon will recover within approximately two weeks. To ensure your complete and full recovery, follow these tips:
Fill any prescriptions for antibiotics provided by your dentist and take those antibiotics precisely as directed.
If, as is often the case, your grafted tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth, ask your dentist if they can provide you with a palatal stent. A palatal stent will act as a shield to protect your palate (the roof of your mouth) while it heals, including protecting your stitches from food and drinks you’re consuming while you heal.
Use ice packs or cold compresses to get relief from swelling and soreness. The swelling will initially worsen after your procedure. That’s a sign of the body’s healing process. For best results, start using cold compresses right away, and use them for 20 minutes at a time — 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, and over and over.
For most patients, the pain associated with gum grafting requires nothing more than over-the-counter pain medication. Be sure to take medications precisely as directed and be sure to discuss any concerns about pain or taking pain medication with your dentist prior to your procedure.
For the first 24 hours or so after your gum grafting procedure, avoid eating or drinking spicy, hot or cold foods and drinks. Anything too hot or cold will irritate both the roof of your mouth (unless you’re wearing a palatal stent) and the site of the graft and stitches. When you eat, focus on eating and drinking lukewarm foods and drinks.
Speaking of eating, for the first day or so after your procedure, limit yourself to just lukewarm liquids — ideally consumed through a straw. Soups, obviously, may be good options. When you feel like you’re up to eating something more challenging than liquid foods, shift to soft and mushy foods such as eggs, mac ‘n cheese (without the crunchy bits), mashed potatoes, bananas, oatmeal and avocados. For the time being, though, keep it lukewarm and bland. It’ll be boring, but it’s the best diet for ensuring your gums and palate heal completely and quickly without complications or infection.
Your dentist in Brandon will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions at the end of your gum grafting procedure. Follow those instructions precisely and carefully. If you experience any symptoms after a gum grafting procedure that you did not expect or that worsen rather than improve, reach out to a dental clinic in Brandon for advice and support.
