Three Things You Need to Know about Cosmetic Gum Grafting
Your gums are an essential part of your mouth and play a significant role in your oral and overall health. Brushing and flossing daily helps maintain healthy gums and not only protects your teeth but also provides many other benefits.
When you have healthy gums, you don’t become a victim of bad breath and lessen the risk of inflammation and infection in other parts of your body. However, if you have receding gums because of gum infections, you might need a gum graft, a surgical procedure during which your dentist takes tissue from your palate or synthetic sources to replace your receding gums.
Gum grafts are often sought by people with periodontal disease resulting from advanced gum disease, vigorous brushing, injury, and smoking. However, depending on the condition of your mouth and the feeling of your dental specialist, they might decide to look at your gums before deciding to perform gum grafts on one or more teeth.
How Are Gum Grafts Beneficial?
Gum grafts are an effective procedure but have significant benefits. The process prevents tooth and bone loss, lowers your risk of tooth decay, protects your oral health, makes it comfortable for you when eating and chewing, and helps manage tooth sensitivity.
How Would You Know If You Need a Gum Graft?
You might observe gum recession when you check your mouth in the mirror when brushing and flossing your teeth. However, the best way to determine whether you need a gum graft is to visit your dentist to have your mouth examined.
Your dentist will perform a comprehensive exam to examine the health of your teeth and gums. If you have receding gums, they might suggest a gum graft to improve the appearance of your teeth before deciding whether the procedure is suitable for your needs.
If you have receding gums and visit your dentist for an examination, they might recommend a gum tissue graft because the recession exposes your tooth roots, making them more likely to decay besides becoming sensitive and prone to abrasion.
During a gum graft, your dental specialist removes a piece of tissue from the roof of your mouth or nearby healthy gum tissue to attach it to the area where gums have receded because you allowed gingivitis to progress to advanced periodontal disease. Gum grafting is a relatively quick procedure enabling you to leave the specialist’s office soon after its completion.
Before you start preparing to get your gum graft, there are some things you should know about what to expect before deciding it is the best choice for your specific needs. The three things you must inquire about with your specialist and receive answers include the following:
- Expected Recovery Time
As mentioned earlier, going home after completing the procedure is possible if you had it performed under local anesthesia. However, if you receive sedation must have a responsible family member or friend drive you home. The time for the recovery after the procedure is generally four to eight weeks.
How much discomfort you endure from the procedure depends on the type of gum graft performed. For example, you might experience pain for a few days if the gum tissue is removed from your palate. However, your specialist prescribes medications to keep you comfortable.
- Dietary Restrictions
Expect some dietary restrictions in the first couple of weeks following your gum graft. Suitable foods for your recovery include eggs scrambled or soft boiled, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, soft cooked vegetables, and Jell-O. You might receive recommendations for smoothies and soups for the initial few days after the procedure.
- Complications of Gum Grafting
Complications after gum grafting are rare, and infections are not familiar. However, you must see your dentist right away if you observe any oozing or unexpected bleeding at the graft site. In rare cases, the graft tissue might not correctly adapt to the graft site. In such cases, you might need to have the procedure performed again.
If you don’t like the way the graft appears after recovering fully, discuss the issue with the specialist for reshaping the gum tissue. The specialist may modify the tissue to make it appear pleasing to you.
You will fully recover from the gum graft in a few weeks but must schedule follow-up appointments with the specialist to ensure you are healing correctly and the graft has succeeded. After two weeks, brushing and flossing become comfortable and comprehensive recovery may take a month or more, depending on your overall health and how you care for your mouth during the healing.
If you think you have receding gums, consider scheduling an appointment with Newton Dental Group performing numerous gum grafts for many patients. Improve the appearance of your gums and smile by undergoing this comfortable procedure from experienced dental professionals.