With a gum graft, you can expect it to remain in place for a lifetime, but you will need to take care of your oral health on a daily basis. This means brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and being mindful of how much pressure you're using while brushing.
Once the tissue has been removed from the roof of your mouth, it is attached to the gum tissue using special surgical techniques, and is grafted in place permanently. Over time, this new tissue will heal and bond with your surrounding gum tissue.
The same things that cause gum recession can cause post-grafting recession, or graft failure. Here are some common causes of gum recession: Tooth grinding and clenching.
Some complications are possible as a result of gum surgery. You may experience swollen gums, sensitive teeth, infection, and possibly teeth feeling looser – but this should only be temporary. There is also the possibility that the grafting could fail and may need to be redone.
How Long Does the Gum Grafting Result Stay? Although the gum graft stays for a lifetime, the dentist in Crestwood recommends keeping up with the dental routine regularly. It means using a soft-bristled toothbrush, maintaining regular dental visits, and flossing once a day.
It's never too late for gum grafting as long as the patient has sufficient gum tissue to harvest for the graft. However, the success rate of the procedure may be lower in cases where the patient has advanced gum disease or other underlying health issues that can affect the healing process.
As most surgical procedures, gum grafting surgery implicates risk of infection, bleeding, and reaction to anesthesia. Besides, severe pain, bone rejection, inflammation, swelling, nerve injury, bacterial exposure of wounds, loose sutures, uneven healing, and more…
Gum grafting surgeries have a success rate of up to 90%. Besides, with local anesthesia, you should not experience any pain during your treatment. Afterward, your dentist will prescribe pain medication to help you manage your soreness after the numbing wears off.
We'll get straight to the point: yes, gum grafts can fail. However, keep in mind that gum graft failure is not a common occurrence, and many people actually enjoy the benefits of a successful gum graft for a long time.
Recovery. The gum grafting procedure has a 90% success rate, therefore patients can feel confident the procedure will benefit them. Recovery from this procedure normally takes 4-6 weeks, during which patients will be asked not to brush or floss near the newly repaired area.
The main advantage of using donor tissue for gum grafts is there's no limit in how many areas can be treated at once. Autografts, on the other hand, can only address a few areas at a time due to the invasive nature of tissue harvesting.
Because the “tunnelling” gum graft approach is minimally invasive, your new gum graft will be a natural pink color and look so natural, most of our patients cannot even tell which teeth were treated and which were not.
When performed by a highly qualified dental specialist, a gum graft can help enhance your oral health and improve the quality of your smile. In addition, this treatment provides patients with many benefits, including: Strengthens and stabilizes the gum covering your tooth. Protects your tooth against recession.
This exposes more of the tooth root, leaving it vulnerable to decay and sensitivity. About 15-20% of the patients ages 20-35 have some sort of gum recession and may require grafting. About 75% of people older than 50 will require some form of gum grafting due to age and normal chewing.
Gum grafting is a highly safe and effective procedure; it has been tested and proven successful in treating countless cases of receding and thinning gums due to aggressive brushing and gum disease. Still, complications and infections may occur, especially without proper post-op care.
Treating Receding Gums with Gum Grafting
Gum grafting can address these issues and restore and rejuvenate your smile. While some gum recession occurs as we age, it can also often be result of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease must be treated before any cosmetic procedures can take place.
At this point, a clinician not familiar with the healing of a free gingival graft might mistake this presentation as a dead and/or failed graft. In addition, patients will frequently complain of a bad smell and indicate their graft is “dead.”
Throughout your surgery, you can expect to feel no pain whatsoever, as the anesthesia will ensure you are thoroughly numb. However, once you are home and the effects have worn off, it is not uncommon to experience some soreness and discomfort. Fortunately, there are ways to manage the pain and avoid complications.
Cost of Gum Graft Surgery
A periodontist is a specialist so is likely to have a higher fee. Donor tissue is more expensive than tissue that is harvested from the roof of your mouth. There is also the possibility of requiring gum contouring during your gum graft which can bring your overall fee up to $3000 per tooth.
The grafted material can often look gray until a blood supply is established. Gum tissue requires a blood supply, which gives it pink/red color. The grafted material is not connected to the blood supply. Without a blood supply, it looks pale.
During this time, new blood vessels grow into the graft and help it to become integrated with the surrounding tissue. A successful graft can reduce or eliminate problems like tooth sensitivity and further gum recession, as well as improve the aesthetics of your smile.
Is gum graft surgery worth it? Gum grafting boasts high success rates of over 90%. This procedure gives you the best chance of treating gum recession and improving your overall oral health. Left untreated, gum recession can result in cavities, severe gum disease, tooth mobility and even eventual tooth loss.
If a dental patient has been diagnosed with gum disease, then they must have their gum disease treated before they can be considered a candidate. If a gum graft is performed on unhealthy gums, then it is likely that the procedure will fail. Good gum health is essential to a successful gum grafting.
You can always reattempt to have your gum graft redone. You need to wait at least 3 months after your failed gum graft to make sure the tissues have properly healed and matured after your initial surgery. An attempt to redo a gum graft too soon won't allow you to have the most optimal response.