Gum recession, technically known as gingival recession, is very common among adults and sometimes teenagers. It is a process where gum tissue pulls away from the tooth, leaving the root area exposed. Many dental health problems stem from this process, such as the increased likelihood of tooth decay, gum inflammation, tooth sensitivity, and even tooth loss.
At 5 Corner Dental, your oral health is of the utmost importance. With us, you can schedule various periodontal procedures to help protect and restore your oral health. If you think you are experiencing gum recession or any periodontal disease, we can decipher whether gum graft surgery is the right approach for your needs to achieve optimal restoration and improvement. Contact us to set up an appointment at (604)-574-4000 today. We look forward to serving you!
Gum grafting is a process where a periodontist or dentist with specific training replaces worn-out gums with tissue from your mouth to restore the gums and cover areas of recession. This recession can be caused by gum disease, poor oral hygiene habits, and other hereditary conditions.
Gum recession exposes the root area of your teeth, making them more likely to decay faster, become sensitive, and prone to abrasion. If you have gum recession, your dentist will likely refer you to a periodontist, a gum specialist, who may suggest a gum graft procedure to correct the receding gums. These procedures can also be performed by a dentist with specified training in this area. During this process, the periodontist will first obtain a piece of tissue from a nearby healthy gum or from the roof of your mouth. There are options to use artificial tissue for the graft as well. After that, they attach the donor tissue onto the area of gum recession. This process is relatively fast and your dentist will explain all care instructions before you leave the office.
Adults (and sometimes teens) with receding gums due to periodontal problems need gum grafting. Gum recession causes the tooth root to be exposed, making you at risk of developing tooth decay, infection, and bone loss. Performing a gum graft is beneficial to repair receding gums and prevent further issues. Consult our office now so you can determine whether you can benefit from such treatment.
Connective-Tissue Grafts
Connective-Tissue Grafts are the most conventional treatment for root exposure. This procedure involves cutting open a flap of skin on the palate then extracting the subepithelial connective tissue under the flap. After that, the flap is stitched back up into the palate. The removed subepithelial connective tissue is then connected to the receding gums.
Free Gingival Grafts
This method is like connective-tissue grafts in the way that it uses palatal tissue to connect to the receding gums. However, instead of cutting open a flap of skin on the palate then extracting tissue underneath, this process involves removing the tissue directly. The extracted tissue is then attached to the gum being treated. This treatment is commonly used for people whose gums are thin and need additional tissue to enlarge them.
Pedicle Grafts
This procedure involves grafting nearby gums where the flap or pedicle is partially cut so that the other edge remains attached, then pulled over the exposed root and stitched into place. This therapy can only be done if the patient has plenty of gum tissue near the exposed root.
Protects Against Further Recession
When gum recession has worsened to the point where it causes oral health problems, gum grafting is necessary. Healthy gum tissues ward off bacteria from your teeth and their roots, preventing inflammation, infections, and further gum recession in the future.
Protects Teeth’s Roots from Further Decay and Prevents Tooth Loss
Gum recession ultimately exposes the roots of your teeth, leaving them vulnerable to bacteria that cause tooth decay. This, in turn, can lead to eventual tooth loss. By placing a new and healthier gum over the receding one, the tooth’s root will be protected and strengthened again.
Reduces Tooth Sensitivity
Only the gums have the duty of protecting the roots of teeth. The roots do not have enamel built around them to protect themselves. The absence of enamel to protect the roots plus the recession of the gums would expose the roots making them sensitive to touch and to hot/cold drinks. Adding new and healthy gum tissue will increase the level of protection and halt sensitivity. A patient’s’ quality of life will soon be restored to normal, and they can now eat ice cream and drink hot beverages without discomfort.
Improves Your Smile
Swollen, uneven, discolored, or highly receded gums all affect and lessen your smile’s aesthetics. By adding new and healthier gums, through gum grafting, your smile is restored to looking natural and healthy again while teeth are even more robust too. We love seeing the confidence of a smile that’s been improved by gum grafting!
Prevents Plaque Buildup
Are you tired of frequently visiting the dentist due to dental problems? You can ultimately reduce the frequency of appointments when you get to the bottom of the problem. There are major dental issues caused by gum recession. Gum tissues protect your teeth and their roots from getting infected, and developing cavities and tooth decay. These dental problems create a need for more appointments with your dentist. Fortunately, a gum grafting procedure can save you from these constant issues. This treatment aids in preventing plaque from seeping into sensitive areas of the teeth, thus keeping your mouth clean and healthier, and saving you time spent at the dental clinic.
Improved Mouth Health
It is no secret that living with pain is not the ideal way to live our lives. With gum recession and your teeth’s roots exposed, you are not only vulnerable to gum infections and inflammation, but you are also always struggling with the sensitivity and discomfort when consuming hot or cold food/beverages. With gum grafting, your quality of life improves drastically. Now, you can enjoy food to the fullest, and sensitivity will be nothing more than a thing of the past.
Boosts Confidence
Receded gums can affect your overall self-confidence due to the appearance of your gums. The process of adding a new layer to the receding area through gum grafting helps restore not only the quality of your life but also your self-confidence.
Experienced Team
The 5 Corner Dental team is comprised of highly trained professionals who have completed advanced training in various dental procedures and periodontal procedures. We ensure excellent results for our patients and put the utmost care into restoring and protecting teeth. Our office offers a variety of procedures, including gum grafting, crown lengthening, and bone grafting. We also offer dental implant surgeries and placement.
Unrivaled Commitment to Patient Care
At 5 Corner Dental, we are dedicated to taking the patient experience to the next level. We optimize both state-of-the-art and conventional approaches to guarantee the patient’s safety, comfort, and satisfaction. We customize care for each patient by providing a personalized treatment plan to improve their overall oral health.
Schedule an appointment with us today so we can give you more reasons to smile!
Typically, only half of the teeth are visible above the gum line. However, when gums recede, the roots of your teeth are exposed. The appearance of the receding gums, any decay as a result of the recession, or tooth loss from recession, all have the potential to negatively impact the appearance of your mouth when smiling and reduce your confidence.
Applying excessive force on the neck of the teeth when brushing can result in gum recession. Moreover, poor oral hygiene habits can cause plaque build-up, which could lead to gum inflammation and infection, and ultimately, retraction. The same thing goes with prostheses and other orthodontic tools that were attached poorly.
This procedure is performed with local anesthesia, and is sometimes accompanied by conscious sedation. Therefore, the process is painless. Your dentist can prescribe a pain reliever you can take after the treatment. It is crucial to follow your dentist’s post-operation instructions to prevent bleeding, pain or other problems following the procedure.
Gum grafting, accompanied by proper tooth brushing techniques, has a very high success rate and patient satisfaction. As soon as the procedure is completed, the teeth are restored to a normal and healthy appearance.
Some gum grafting procedures do not allow for a more natural look even after the gums have healed. However, with the advent of technology and state-of-the-art facilities, much more precise surgical methods are available. Contact us today so we can give you specific details regarding your personalized treatment plan!
Yes. Gum grafting protects the exposed teeth roots permanently, alleviates discomfort, and restores gum health and appearance.
Most of the time, your gums fully heal in approximately two weeks after the treatment. However, most patients return to work the day after the procedure. Please note that after gum grafting, it is normal for your teeth to feel a bit more sensitive than usual.
You may have to temporarily modify your patterns of biting or chewing to avoid the grafted area after treatment. Generally, avoid eating hard, spicy, chewy, and other foods that may aggravate the bleeding in your palate until your mouth has fully healed.
For two to three days after the treatment, it is best to opt for soft and non-sticky food. You can eat food like warm (not hot) oatmeal, yogurt, cereal, pasta, eggs, slightly cooled mashed potatoes, and even a smoothie that is not too cold.
Generally, you can go back to doing light work 24 hours after the surgery. We provide specific instructions for post-op procedures to each of our patients, as the details can vary depending on the patient’s unique situation.