We all want to maintain our oral health and our smile, and for some of us, this may include having to undergo a procedure known as a gum graft. If you’ve never heard of a gum graft before, that’s ok; they aren’t as common as other routine dental procedures. A graft can be done for a number of reasons, some that are mandatory and some that are purely cosmetic. In either case, it helps to know what to look out for, the reasons for the procedure, and how to tell whether or not you’re a likely candidate to need this procedure or whether it can help the look of your smile.
In this post, we will discuss what exactly gum grafting is and why a person may need this type of procedure. We hope having this information will set your mind at ease and make you more comfortable if you end up needing a graft.
Gum grafting is the transferring of live tissue from one area of the body to the gums in order to restore the damage done to the gums. While there are many reasons why a graft procedure may be done, grafting is used because the gum tissue itself does not regrow on its own, meaning that once it has been damaged, the only way to restore the tissue is with a graft.
The procedure itself is relatively simple, and thanks to local anesthesia, the patient doesn’t feel any pain when undergoing the process. A graft can help repair the damage caused by gum recession, but without treating the root cause of the recession, there is no way to actually reverse gum recession once it has begun.
This means that it is important to talk with your dentist about the steps to stop the advancement of gum recession so that if a graft is done, gum recession won’t erase the work that was done restoring your gums to a natural shape and position.
A gum tissue graft is recommended for anyone who has suffered gum recession to the point where the roots of the teeth are exposed or are in danger of being exposed. A graft can also be administered for cosmetic correction of damaged gums even if the recession is not that severe. In cosmetic cases, though, the patient typically has to request the procedure rather than it being recommended by the dentist.
The primary reason that a dentist may recommend a graft is gum recession due to highly advanced periodontal disease. Once periodontal disease has advanced to the point of gum recession, it can also cause bone deterioration in the upper and lower jaw. If this condition is left untreated, it can cause teeth to loosen and fall out.
For that reason, the dentist may perform other procedures to correct the damage from the periodontal disease, such as scaling and root planing before grafting is performed. The dentist will usually suggest changing your oral health routine to combat the cause of the gum recession in advance of the procedure as well so that once the graft is in place, there is less of a chance of recession happening again.
Beyond periodontal disease as a reason for needing a graft, some patients experience thin gums due to age or excessive brushing. This can cause bleeding and damage to the gums that may also necessitate a graft in order to repair the damage and protect the teeth and roots from harm.
Lastly, facial damage, damage to the mouth or gums due to an accident or injury, may make it so that graft is necessary. As we discussed earlier, gum tissue does not regrow on its own once damaged, so in order to restore your gums and the proper look of your smile to boot, grafting in new tissue is the only way to go. This doesn’t protect your gums from future recession or damage, but it can help to give you back some of what you’ve lost.
It’s difficult to know if your gums are in bad enough shape to need a graft without talking to your dentist first. Gum disease is a gradual progression, so if you can stop it early enough, you can prevent major damage, and therefore you may not need a graft. Always make regular visits to your dentist and keep track of your oral health.
Request an appointment here: https://www.charlesdyeriv.com or call Charles E. Dyer IV, DDS, MS, PC at (281) 213-0900 for an appointment in our Cypress office.
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