Experiencing gum recession?
Our skilled team performs gum grafting to cover exposed roots, reduce sensitivity, and improve the aesthetics of your smile. Regain your healthy gums and protect your teeth with our expert care.
Discover more about our gum grafting services today.
Gum recession, in simple terms, refers to the condition where the margin of the gum tissue surrounding the teeth wears away or pulls back, exposing more of the tooth or its root.
This exposure creates gaps or "pockets" between the teeth and gum line, making it easy for disease-causing bacteria to build up.
If left untreated, gum recession can lead to severe damage to the supporting tissue and bone structures of the teeth, eventually resulting in tooth loss.
Gum recession can be caused by a variety of factors.
These include periodontal diseases, your genes, aggressive tooth brushing, insufficient dental care, hormonal changes, tobacco products, grinding or clenching of your teeth, crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, and body piercing in the lip or tongue.
Gum grafting, also known as gingival graft or periodontal plastic surgery, is a surgical procedure to correct the effects of gum recession.
It is a quick and relatively painless procedure where a periodontist removes healthy gum tissue from the roof of the mouth (or another source) and uses it to build the gum back up where it has receded.
Gum grafting involves taking a small piece of tissue from one area, typically the palate, and transplanting it to the area where the gums have receded. This helps to reinforce the gum tissue and prevent further recession.
There are primarily three types of gum grafts: connective-tissue grafts, free gingival grafts, and pedicle grafts. The type of graft used depends on your specific situation and the decision of your periodontist.
The first step towards gum grafting is a consultation with your periodontist. They'll assess the condition of your gums and teeth and decide if gum grafting is the best course of action. This usually involves an oral examination and X-rays.
Depending on the extent of gum recession and your personal needs, your periodontist will choose the best type of graft for you.
This is the most common method used to treat root exposure. During the procedure, a flap of skin is cut at the roof of your mouth (palate) and tissue from under the flap, called subepithelial connective tissue, is removed and then stitched to the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root.
After the connective tissue — the graft — has been removed from under the palatal flap, the flap is stitched back down.
Similar to a connective-tissue graft, free gingival grafts involve the use of tissue from the palate. But instead of making a flap and removing tissue under the top layer of flesh, a small amount of tissue is directly removed from the roof of the mouth and then attached to the gum area.
This method is often used in people who have thin gums to begin with and need additional tissue to enlarge the gums.
In this procedure, instead of taking tissue from the palate, it is grafted from gum around or near the tooth needing repair. The flap, called a pedicle, is only partially cut away so that one edge remains attached.
This pedicle is then pulled over or down to cover the exposed root and sewn into place.
This procedure can only be done in people who have plenty of gum tissue near the tooth.
After the surgery, it's important to follow all the post-procedure care instructions provided by your periodontist. This could include guidelines on diet, physical activity, cleaning your mouth, and medications to control pain or help you heal.
With proper care, the grafted area should start to look like the surrounding gum tissue within a few months. If your gum recession was caused by poor oral health habits, it's crucial to adopt better dental care routines to ensure the success of your graft and prevent future gum recession.
Gum grafting is a common, safe, and effective treatment for gum recession.
The procedure not only improves the aesthetics of your smile but also protects your teeth from potential damage and loss.
Although the thought of oral surgery might seem intimidating, modern techniques and anesthetics make the process as comfortable as possible.
