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Gum Grafting Peterborough Dental Clinic

Gum Grafting

In periodontal disease, swollen unhealthy gums start to pull away from the teeth, often leading to gum recession, which can cause pain and sensitivity. Gum grafting can help restore the gum’s covering on teeth and reduce sensitivity.

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Your gums are a very important part of maintaining oral health and keeping your teeth healthy. They protect the roots of your teeth by creating a seal around them. Keeping your gums healthy will help you avoid infections as well as gum recession, which can be caused by over-brushing, periodontal disease and bruxism (teeth grinding).

Regardless of the cause, gum recession can expose areas of your teeth that aren’t protected by enamel, causing pain and sensitivity. Because this allows bacteria to completely bypass the protective layers of teeth, gum recession can also cause greater tooth decay, which in turn can mean you’ll need root canals or extractions sooner. Additionally, gum recession can negatively impact your smile by making your teeth appear longer.

What Is Gum Grafting?

In a gum grafting procedure, gum tissue is taken from the soft palate (at the back of the roof of the mouth) to cover areas of the teeth exposed by gum recession. This graft helps protect exposed areas of the teeth and roots from bacteria and tartar and helps reduce pain and sensitivity.
Mild cases of gum recession can be treated with scaling and root planing, a non-invasive procedure in which your dentist cleans areas exposed by gum recession, as well as spaces underneath your gums that are prone to collecting decay-causing bacteria. In advanced cases where scaling and root planing is not enough to treat gum recession, a gum grafting procedure attaches new gum tissue to exposed areas of the teeth and roots.

Procedure Overview

There are three main types of gum grafts: free gingival grafts, subepithelial connective tissue grafts and pedicle grafts. Free gingival grafts are taken from the surface of the soft palate, while subepithelial connective tissue grafts are taken from beneath a flap cut from the soft palate. Pedicle grafts use gum tissue from an area right next to the recession. Donor tissue may also be used.

Once the graft tissue has been retrieved, it is attached to the area where the gum has receded with sutures.

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Gum Grafting Peterborough, Ontario

Aftercare

After the graft, your gums and the site of the graft may be tender. You’ll need to eat soft foods for a week or two and avoid picking at any stitches. Once your dentist removes the stitches, you’ll be able to return to your regular diet.
Although gum grafting can help slow or even stop gum recession and infection, the gums are still vulnerable to infection and recession, so it’s very important to keep up with oral hygiene habits. Regular visits to your dentist in addition to daily brushing and flossing will help keep your gums healthy!

Gum Grafting Procedures in Peterborough

When is gum surgery needed?
Gum surgery is a procedure that usually treats gum disease. It can include crown lengthening and gum grafting.
What does gum grafting mean?
Gum grafting is taking tissue from somewhere else and attaching it to your gums to cover exposed tooth roots and restore receding gum lines..
How does a gum lift differ from other gum surgery options?
A gum lift is a cosmetic surgery that removes excess gum tissue to correct a “gummy” smile.
What are the advantages of using a soft tissue laser in gum surgery?
This is a new technology that precisely removes gum tissue and minimalizes bleeding. It also reduces swelling and speeds healing.
Are gum grafting procedures painful?
Gum grafting comes with some discomfort but we at Grand Village Dental seek to minimalize it. We have laser options and sedation. Recover is faster with less invasive techniques.
What types of gum disease treatment involve gum surgery?
Advanced gum disease could require gum surgery or gum grafting to stop the disease and restore the gums
How can wait-times or delays affect the need for surgery?
Delaying treatment allows gum disease to progress. That may require more invasive and extensive treatments.
What does “accessing teeth covered by gums” mean, and when is that necessary?
Some teeth or parts of them are covered by gum tissue. They aren’t erupting completely so gum surgery may be needed to get to the tooth to expose or extract it.