You may experience some tooth sensitivity after surgery, especially to cold. Sensitivity usually decreases within several weeks after surgery and can be minimized by keeping the area as free of plaque as possible.
Gum grafting recovery
Healing usually is quick. Most patients are fully healed in just one to two weeks. Most people do return to work the day after their procedure though. After gum grafting, your teeth may feel more sensitive than usual.
Why? Tooth roots are normally sensitive to cold to some degree. The previously swollen gums and the dressing were insulation and kept the root from feeling the cold. Also, surgery can make the nerves sensitive for a few weeks.
Reduced sensitivity – When the tooth root becomes exposed, eating or drinking hot or cold foods can cause extreme sensitivity to the teeth. Gum grafting surgery permanently covers the exposed root, helps reduce discomfort, and restores the good health of the gums.
Occasionally after surgery, teeth may become very sensitive, especially to cold, this is normal and should subside in couple weeks, if not please report it and we will prescribe special medication for that sensitivity.
The surgical area will normally be tender for one to two days. Tissue for the gum graft is often taken from your palate but may be obtained from other sites or be 'store bought' in the form of manufactured collagen. This area takes one to two weeks to heal.
For patients who are not using donor grafting material, the healing process typically takes around 7-10 days, although most pain and discomfort should begin to alleviate and disappear within 2-4 days.
Patient may experience pain, described as a constant dull ache or sharper pain during mastication or speaking (movement of oral and peri-oral tissues). Patient experiences anxiety over procedure and perceived lack of success.
As most surgical procedures, gum grafting surgery implicates risk of infection, bleeding, and reaction to anesthesia. Besides, severe pain, bone rejection, inflammation, swelling, nerve injury, bacterial exposure of wounds, loose sutures, uneven healing, and more…
When the soft tissues shrink, and there is less swelling, you will know that healing has begun. The gum tissues gradually start to bind to the root surface and the nearby bone surface. New vessels will also begin to form, and the tissues will receive an adequate blood supply.
What are gum graft failure symptoms? If your gum graft failed, you'll probably notice a large patch of white tissue that has come off of your tooth. Its lack of color means that the gum graft lost blood supply and is dying.
These foods might include ice cream, jello, cold soups, and pudding. After a couple of days, you can try warmer foods. Don't put anything in your mouth that is too hot- such as that amazing pepperoni pizza you always burn your mouth on. You need to eat soft foods for at least a week after a gum graft.
Gum healing stage 2: healing of the palate
For the first few days you will experience a burning sensation and it will take about 14 days before the discomfort will stop. The healing period may last more than two months if there is swelling or if the tissue removal resulted to an exposed bone.
When performed by a highly qualified dental specialist, a gum graft can help enhance your oral health and improve the quality of your smile. In addition, this treatment provides patients with many benefits, including: Strengthens and stabilizes the gum covering your tooth. Protects your tooth against recession.
When recession occurs and gum tissue is lost from in between teeth, it is usually and indication that underlying bone has been lost too. In these instances, long-lasting root coverage with grafting is very unlikely. Under these conditions, gum grafts fail more often.
Gum grafting surgeries have a success rate of up to 90%. Besides, with local anesthesia, you should not experience any pain during your treatment. Afterward, your dentist will prescribe pain medication to help you manage your soreness after the numbing wears off.
Chewing food can damage the graft site. Hard Foods – Hard foods such as pretzels and raw vegetables can cause abrasions around the graft site. It is better to stick with soft food to prevent this damage. Sticky Foods – Candy, peanut butter and other foods can stick to the teeth and gums.
Expect the 3rd or 4th day after the surgery to be the worst in swelling. Do not be alarmed if you have swelling at this time, it is normal. By the 5th day, the swelling should be down. For bruising and swelling you may go to any health food store (i.e. Whole Foods) and get some Arnica Montana.
Gum graft healing
You will know that the graft is healing when the swelling subsides and the soft tissues are shrinking. Your gum tissue will begin binding to the root surface and bone. Then, new blood vessels will begin to form to enable blood flow to the graft. This stage takes four to six weeks from surgery.
The gum tissue will undergo changes for the next 1-2 weeks. The graft color may change from pink to white. This is NORMAL. Then the color will change to red and then back to pink as the swelling decreases.
3rd day until 2 weeks after surgery: A very soft food diet should only be eaten (Pasta, soups, eggs, fish, cooked soft vegetables, oatmeal, rice, beans etc.) Avoid any hard, spicy, crusty, coffee or acidic foods. Chewing should be done on the side opposite the surgical site.
It will get red and puffy, then white or gray with sloughing for up to two weeks. The tissue will change to pink or the natural color of your gums as the area heals. The dentists here at Gum Disease Guide aim to explain why the gum graft may look gray in this post.
Gum grafts can change color during healing. Both the graft and the donor site sometimes turn white, three to five days after the procedure. This is normal healing. Much like a sunburn, the surface tissue sloughs off and then regenerates.
The amount of pain you have after surgery depends on the type of gum graft performed. If no tissue is removed from your palate, you should have little to no discomfort. However, if tissue is removed from your palate, you may be uncomfortable for a few days following the procedure.