Gum recession can result in a number of oral health issues, ranging from compromised aesthetics to impacting the smile’s appearance. Gingival grafting is a complex periodontal surgical procedure that offers a solution to this problem by carefully transferring oral tissue to cover these exposed root surfaces. Keep reading this blog to learn more about how gingival grafting works.
What is Gingival Grafting?
Gingival grafting, also known as gum grafting, is a surgical treatment for gum recession. During gum recession, your gums separate from the teeth and reveal the dental roots. This exposure can cause increased tooth sensitivity, a higher risk of root decay, and an unfavorable appearance. Gum grafting enhances your general oral health by replacing the missing tissue surrounding your teeth.
What Happens During Gingival Grafting?
Here’s what happens during a gingival grafting procedure:
Anesthetic: The dentist will first use a local anesthetic to numb the donor site (if using your own tissue) and the region where the graft will be put.
Preparing the Recipient Site: The gum tissue at the recession site is carefully loosened to provide a little pocket or area for the transplant. Plaque and tartar are carefully removed from the exposed tooth roots.
Gum Harvesting: For a gum transplant, a little piece of healthy gum is removed from a donor location, usually the palate, using your own tissue. Different methods are used: a pedicle graft uses adjacent gum tissue pushed over the recession (needs sufficient adjacent tissue), a free gingival graft uses a palate surface layer (excellent for thickness), and a connective tissue transplant uses tissue from under a palate flap (ideal for root coverage).
Graft Placement: Graft placement involves carefully placing the extracted gum tissue, or donor tissue from a tissue bank, over the exposed tooth root or roots at the recipient location that has been prepped.
Graft Securing: Sutures, or stitches, are used to hold the graft firmly in place. These could disintegrate by themselves or require removal at a later time. It is possible to apply a protective dressing to the surgical site.
Gum Graft Recovery
After the surgery, your dentist will allow you to return home. However, you will need to arrange for someone else to drive you home if your dentist gives you a sedative to help you relax.
Regarding postoperative care, your dentist will provide detailed recommendations on medicine, food, and exercise. The gum line that was mended should not be brushed or flossed until it has healed. During the healing process, you will be instructed to use a specific mouthwash to help manage plaque, and you could be prescribed an antibiotic to lower your risk of infection.
Summing Up!
If you have gum recession, your dentist may recommend gingival grafting to treat the condition. Gingival grafting is a surgical procedure that works by replacing the missing tissue surrounding your teeth.
If you require further assistance, consult our experts at Pearl Dentistry. Call us to book your appointment.