Two appointments are needed for a gum graft: the first to perform the surgery and the second to remove sutures and check that the graft is healing correctly.
When arriving at our dental office for a gum grafting procedure, you can expect the entire process to take about 1-1.5 hours. While the surgery itself should take no longer than one hour, it is best to allow for extra time to ensure you are comfortable.
The actual gum grafting procedure is painless. This is because a local anesthetic is used to numb the affected area. A periodontist, who is a dental specialist in gum disease and the gums, typically performs this procedure. You may instead feel some movement or pressure as your periodontist performs the procedure.
If you use your own tissue, the most teeth you can typically graft at once would probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of 7-8 teeth. With alloderm, you could graft every single tooth in your mouth in one sitting!
During your gum graft surgery, you'll probably be awake like most people, or perhaps opt to be sedated. Most patients do not require anything more than local anesthetics to numb the area.
In some cases, it may be too late for gum grafting to save the gums. If your gums are severely damaged, receding so far back that they expose the tooth's root, or if there is significant bone loss from advanced gum disease, gum grafting may not be able to restore them to their healthy state.
The cost of gum grafting starts at $1200. There are other factors, like the severity, that may increase the cost. Remember, we have payment options available to suit your budget.
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.
Your dentist will open up the tissue at the exposed part of your tooth, and graft, or attach, the oral tissue to your gums. This'll take away the tightness, and give your gums some slack so that they more than adequately cover the root of your tooth, and make your smile great again.
Although a gum graft is not considered major dental surgery, it is best to consult with a specialist (periodontist) for optimum results. Preventing the need for gum grafts starts with knowing why gum recession occurs: Heredity – You can't change who your ancestors are, but you can take steps to manage your oral health.
There is no need to be scared of getting a gum graft. An anesthetic is usually administered at the start of the treatment, so there is no pain involved. Most patients only deal with mild soreness and discomfort afterward. This can generally be managed with over-the-counter or prescription painkillers.
Usually, you can tell you have a failed gum graft because you will have a large white patch of white tissue that has come off the tooth. Sometimes it may even look like the gum graft is falling off.
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.
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.
8. Exercise: Avoid strenuous exercise or lifting weights for the 1st week after surgery. You may walk or ride a bike carefully. 9.
For the most part, patients can drive themselves home after a gum graft. Local anesthesia (novocain) is typically used to numb the areas where the procedure takes place. In some cases, patients opt for a sedative. In this case, transportation will need to be arranged to travel home from the dentist's office.
Following oral surgery, we recommend that you sleep with your head and shoulders propped up above your heart level. Add an extra pillow or two to your bed or to the place where you will be resting. If you have a recliner, this is also an excellent way to keep your head elevated.
DO NOT manipulate any stitches at the GUM GRAFT SITE. These stitches are resorbable and will dissolve in 4 to 7 days. The HARVEST SITE will have either a liquid band-aid or resorbable stitches. The liquid band-aid will chip away over the next 1-2 weeks.
Protection of the gum graft is VERY IMPORTANT to ensure a successful “take” of the procedure. CARE OF MOUTH: DO NOT brush or floss in the graft site for TEN days after surgery. Then you may begin gentle brushing with a soft toothbrush for another two to four days and finally return to normal brushing.
Success or failure of graft will be determined by the periodontist or the operating surgeon. Failure happens in less than 2% of cases.
The average cost of gum graft surgery ranges from $600 to $1,200 per tooth. If gum contouring is performed to give the gums a more attractive appearance, it may add several hundred dollars to the total cost. Additional factors that impact the price of gum grafting include: Number of teeth being worked on.
Avoid Talking (As Much As Possible)
Talking causes your mouth's muscles to stretch, which, in turn, can loosen up the gauze and increase the chances of bleeding. Refraining from speaking is hard, but try to remain silent as much as possible for the first two to three days after gum grafting surgery.
Gum tissue grafting is a permanent solution for tooth sensitivity caused by receding gums. The procedure builds up gum tissue to cover the most sensitive portions of your teeth, which makes it possible for you to enjoy your favorite foods, like ice cream or hot coffee, once more.
Someone whose teeth are healthy
There is no reason to perform a gum graft for a tooth that is very loose or severely damaged. Instead, any tooth problems must be treated before undergoing the gum grafting procedure.
A: You may resume brushing and flossing all teeth except the surgical area 24 hours after surgery. Avoid brushing the surgical area until your stitches are removed or have dissolved depending on the type of stitches placed for your procedure.