Potential complications that could occur due to the procedure include severe swelling, infections, uneven healing and loose sutures.
Gum Tissue Graft: When to Call the Doctor
Call your dentist if you experience any unusual symptoms following surgery, including: Bleeding that won't stop after applying pressure for 20 minutes. More pain, swelling, and bruising than your dentist said to expect.
We'll get straight to the point: yes, gum grafts can fail. However, keep in mind that gum graft failure is not a common occurrence, and many people actually enjoy the benefits of a successful gum graft for a long time.
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.
With a gum graft, you can expect it to remain in place for a lifetime, but you will need to take care of your oral health on a daily basis. This means brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and being mindful of how much pressure you're using while brushing.
Pinhole Surgical Technique
Next, your periodontist uses special instruments to loosen your gums and move them back to the appropriate position. This procedure has gained popularity due to it being far less invasive than traditional gum grafting, which in turn makes the recovery time significantly faster.
Gum grafting surgery permanently covers the exposed root, helps reduce discomfort, and restores the good health of the gums. Improved appearance – Periodontal disease is characterized by gum recession and inflammation.
It's the recommended course of treatment for receding gums to avoid exposing the teeth' root surface that leads to decay and sensitivity. Gum grafts help reverse these adverse effects and restore gums' health so that they can maintain their protective seal around the teeth.
Is pain normal after a gum graft surgery? While a gum graft procedure isn't considered major surgery, it does require some recovery time and short-term modifications to your diet. The procedure typically takes tissue from the roof of the mouth, also known as the palate.
Throughout your surgery, you can expect to feel no pain whatsoever, as the anesthesia will ensure you are thoroughly numb. However, once you are home and the effects have worn off, it is not uncommon to experience some soreness and discomfort. Fortunately, there are ways to manage the pain and avoid complications.
If you use your own tissue, the most teeth you can typically graft at once would probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of 7-8 teeth. With alloderm, you could graft every single tooth in your mouth in one sitting!
Usually, you can tell you have a failed gum graft because you will have a large white patch of white tissue that has come off the tooth. Sometimes it may even look like the gum graft is falling off.
Because the “tunnelling” gum graft approach is minimally invasive, your new gum graft will be a natural pink color and look so natural, most of our patients cannot even tell which teeth were treated and which were not.
If a dental patient has been diagnosed with gum disease, then they must have their gum disease treated before they can be considered a candidate. If a gum graft is performed on unhealthy gums, then it is likely that the procedure will fail. Good gum health is essential to a successful gum grafting.
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.
The right candidate for gum grafting
The ideal candidate for this type of procedure is one who has had severe periodontal disease around the gums and the teeth. This is the type of patient who would benefit from the procedure. There are several symptoms of gum disease.
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.
The color will shift to red and pink as the swelling subsides. Some patients may take a long time to complete the gum graft healing stages. Other patients' gum tissues take 4-8 weeks to heal completely.
During your gum graft surgery, you'll probably be awake like most people, or perhaps opt to be sedated. Most patients do not require anything more than local anesthetics to numb the area. Once the area is numb you will only feel slight applied pressure but will not feel pain or sharpness.
Brushing: You may brush the CHEWING surfaces of your teeth beginning the day AFTER surgery. PLEASE do NOT brush your gum tissue in the areas of surgery at all for the first week. DO NOT USE A DENTAL IRRIGATOR, WATER FLOSSER OR WATER-PICK for 3 full weeks following surgery.
Treating Receding Gums with Gum Grafting
Gum grafting can address these issues and restore and rejuvenate your smile. While some gum recession occurs as we age, it can also often be result of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease must be treated before any cosmetic procedures can take place.
On average, a gum graft can cost between $600 and $1,200 for a small area around one tooth. Dental insurance often covers at least part of the cost of a gum graft. If it is deemed medically necessary, medical insurance may provide some coverage for gum graft surgery as well since it is a surgical procedure.