Due to gum disease, overaggressive brushing and flossing, or genetics, the gum tissue may begin to recede. When this recession is in its earliest stages, you may not even notice it, and it might not cause any adverse symptoms. However, if the recession progresses to the point where the tooth roots become exposed, you are likely to experience increased sensitivity. Your teeth may also appear larger than normal, leading to an uneven smile. Fortunately, modern dentistry offers procedures that can address gum recession. Let’s take a moment to discuss gum grafting in Jacksonville and what it can accomplish.
What Is a Gum Graft?
A gum graft is a minimally invasive surgical procedure wherein your dentist in Jacksonville attaches extra soft tissue to the area of your gums that experienced recession, thereby completely covering the exposed tooth roots. The tissue used in a graft may come from another area of your own mouth, or it may be from a donor.
You shouldn’t feel any discomfort during the procedure; local anesthetic and mild sedation help to keep patients relaxed throughout the treatment. Afterward, you should be feeling well enough to return to work within a day or two. However, your mouth may feel sore for one to two weeks. During the recovery period, it’s best to stick to eating soft, cool foods.
Advantages of Gum Grafting
After you recover from your gum grafting procedure, you may experience a number of significant benefits:
- Your gum line should look more even, giving you a more attractive smile. Depending on where the grafted tissue was taken from, it is possible that onlookers will not even be able to tell that you had some work done.
- Since the exposed tooth roots will once again be protected, you should experience less pain when you consume hot, cold, or acidic items.
- Protecting the tooth roots with new gum tissue decreases their risk of decay.
- The grafted tissue can protect the bone underneath it from infections.
Gum Graft FAQs
How Successful Is Gum Grafting?
The gum graft success rate is very high! As long as you carefully follow postop instructions, it is unlikely that you will suffer any complications.
Can My Regular Dentist Perform a Gum Graft?
Most general dentists will refer their patients to a periodontist (a gum specialist) to undergo this procedure.
Does a Gum Graft Require Any Special Care?
After your initial recovery period, the best way to care for the grafted tissue is to maintain excellent oral hygiene, attend routine checkups with your dentist, and consume a healthy, tooth- and gum-friendly diet.
Have you experienced severe gum recession? Why not talk to your dentist to discover whether you could benefit from a gum graft procedure?
About the Author
Dr. Richard Aguila is a periodontist in Jacksonville who works with Dr. Matthew Nawrocki to provide comprehensive dental care to patients in our community. If you are concerned about gum disease or gum recession, Dr. Aguila would be happy to discuss your treatment options with you. Contact our office at 904-683-4781 to schedule a consultation or learn more about our services.