For soft tissue “gum” grafts, the site(s) may appear white during the healing process (up to 2 weeks), this is normal and not a sign of infection. The tissue will change to a pink color as it heals.
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.
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.
You will know that healing has begun when the soft tissues are shrinking and there is less swelling. The gum tissues gradually starts to bind to the root surface and nearby bone surface as well. New vessels will also start to form and the tissues will receive enough blood supply.
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 the normal healing process, the gum graft site goes through many color changes. 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.
For soft tissue “gum” grafts, the site(s) may appear white during the healing process (up to 2 weeks), this is normal and not a sign of infection. The tissue will change to a pink color as it heals.
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.
Do not look at the surgery site after leaving here. Some areas may remain sore for 5 to 6 days. The grafts may be a whitish or grayish appearance for 4 to 6 days after surgery, but this is normal until full blood circulation is restored.
Symptoms. The most pronounced symptom of graft failure is a smooth, clean breaking off of a tree at the graft union. This may occur one, two, or many years after the graft is made. Other symptoms of graft failure include general ill health of the tree or shoot dieback.
This white material is usually granulation tissue, a fragile tissue composed of blood vessels, collagen, and white blood cells. Granulation tissue is a normal part of your body's healing process and is not cause for concern.
Gum graft infection
One way to truly tell if you have an infection is that you will see pus coming from the graft site. This will look like a thick yellow fluid that is leaking from the surgical site. It is important to make sure to take antibiotics during the healing process to help prevent infection.
In the next 24-48 hours following surgery the gum tissue will begin to heal, which involves the formation of granulation tissue. This tissue is typically white or cloudy over the incision, which sometimes causes concern for patients, but it is normal for healing gum tissue. Regeneration of tissue.
DO NOT manipulate any stitches at the GUM GRAFT SITE. These stitches are resorbable and will dissolve in 4 to 7 days. The HARVEST SITE will have either a liquid band-aid or resorbable stitches. The liquid band-aid will chip away over the next 1-2 weeks.
When can I eat my regular diet after a gum graft? Typically, your gum graft should heal within 14 days. After that, you can resume eating as you wish. However, the only away to know for certain is by consulting with your periodontist.
You will notice a material on the inside of the “putty” that closely resembles a tissue graft. This is not the patient's graft, it is a material we place over the graft. If the “putty” comes off, the patient can lightly rinse with warm salt water. No flossing or brushing near the gum.
At first, the colour of the grafted skin may appear red or purple, but it should begin to look more like your surrounding skin over time. It can take a year or two for the appearance of the skin to settle down completely.
If you notice a “bump” on the inside or outside surface where the graft was placed, don't be alarmed. It is normal and doesn't necessarily indicate the presence of an infection. Leave the bump alone – do not feel the bump or play with it with your tongue.
You could dislodge the healing tissue and compromise the success of the graft. Do not pull your lip away to view the graft site.
This tissue is comprised of blood vessels, collagens and white blood cells, hence its white colour. This is a normal part of your body's healing process, so while it may seem alarming at first, it's actually really important as it protects the site until new gum tissue or bone can form.
Healthy gums will appear pink, light pink, brown or black in color. They're firm and resilient; they don't move when you touch them and won't bleed when you floss or brush. Healthy gums don't feel sensitive or tender to the touch, and they aren't swollen or inflamed in their natural state!
(This type of suture is often yellowish-tan in color.)
Tissue Sloughing or Shedding.
Healthy gum tissue is pink and firm. If large amounts of your graft appear white or even grey, it may signal dead or necrotic tissue. This gum tissue will typically look like it's peeling away from the tooth roots.