Is gum grafting really necessary? (2023)

Are gum grafts really necessary?

Gum grafts are commonly needed by patients with gingival recession, or receding gums, to preserve their oral health. In cases of gingival recession, a gum graft may be needed to cover the exposed teeth roots and correct pockets between the teeth and the gums.

One of the more popular alternatives to having a traditional gum graft performed is a newer procedure called the Pinhole Surgical Technique. Much like orthoscopic/laparoscopic surgery, this minimally invasive procedure corrects gum recession by making a small hole in your gumline.

Gum tissue grafting fights the damage caused by periodontal disease. By grafting healthy tissue onto weak, receding gums, we can help you prevent ongoing decay and reduce your risk of tooth loss.

Oral Hygiene

Brushing teeth twice a day and regular flossing is the best way to avoid gum grafts. But surprisingly, some brushing can actually lead to gum damage. Brushing too aggressively causes the gums to loosen. Brushing is good, but be gentle.

This procedure gives you the best chance of treating gum recession and improving your overall oral health. Left untreated, gum recession can result in cavities, severe gum disease, tooth mobility and even eventual tooth loss.

In any case, it's never too late to seek a diagnosis for gum grafting treatment with our Waldorf MD Periodontist. Today, three types of gum grafting are available, including: Connective Tissue Graft: In this procedure, connective tissue from under the palate is used to cover exposed tooth roots.

Although both gum grafting and PST are effective methods for treating gum recession, there are several unique benefits of PST compared to gum grafting, which include the following: Faster recovery time. Significantly less discomfort during and following treatment. Treatment time significantly reduced.

Soft Tissue Gum Grafts Restore Original Root Coverage

After treatment and healing, many people can barely tell where the graft is because it looks so natural — a perfect match with existing gum tissue.

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.

How long do stitches stay in after gum graft surgery?

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.

Gum grafting recovery

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. Desensitizing toothpaste or mouthwash can help with this discomfort.

The average cost of gum tissue graft surgery ranges from $700 to $1,000. If gum contouring is performed to give the gums a more attractive appearance during the procedure the cost can climb to around $1,500.

Mild pain was most common, being reported 70.3 percent of the time. Moderate to severe pain was reported 29.7 percent of the time. The average duration of pain for gum grafting surgery was 2 days. Periodontal plastic surgery, which includes gum grafting, was associated with more pain than other procedures.

Good Oral Hygiene Habits

One of the most important things you can do to avoid further gum recession is to brush and floss your teeth twice daily. If your gums have receded due to aggressive brushing, be mindful of the force you are applying while brushing and use a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Left untreated, gum recession can wreak havoc on your oral health. Even if you don't develop pain or sensitivity, it's important to have an evaluation with your dentist if your gums are receding. They can tell you how serious the problem is, and what steps you can take to protect your oral health.

Electric toothbrushes have a considerable advantage over their manual counterparts. Other than being more effective at plaque removal, power toothbrushes are the best types of toothbrushes for gum recession.

Is gum grafting permanent? These grafts are permanent. They will bring your gumline back down and cover the tooth roots that were exposed. Gum grafting will result in a more even gum line, and your teeth will no longer appear to be overly long.

How many teeth need to be grafted? If you need many teeth in your mouth grafted and want to just get this procedure done once, then alloderm should definitely be considered. 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.

The palate takes longer to heal than the gum graft and spans from six to eight weeks following the surgery. For the first few days you will experience a burning sensation and it will take about 14 days before the discomfort will stop.

What can dentists do to help receding gums?

To fix receding gums, we can use a procedure called a gum graft. This is a minor surgical procedure that involves taking healthy gum tissue from another part of the mouth and attaching it to where the gums have receded, providing extra tissue to build the gums back up.

The top toothpaste available on the market that helps reduce sensitivity caused by receding gums is Sensodyne.

If you have receding, sensitive, or bleeding gums; you are likely a good candidate for pinhole surgery. You must also be free of periodontal disease and inflamed gums, and commit to adopting new hygiene habits to prevent future gum recession.

Average Cost Range of Pinhole Gum Surgery

The cost of pinhole gum surgery can range anywhere from $2500 to $5,000 per jaw. The average cost is around $3,000. Where the cost falls within that range for one patient depends on a few different factors.

Is pinhole gum surgery cheaper than gum grafting? In some situations, the per-tooth cost of pinhole surgical surgery can be comparable to traditional gum grafting. However, RealSelf members report that the average cost of pinhole gum surgery is about $1,000 more than a gum graft, which costs $2,775 on average.

No matter the type of oral procedure, proper care and maintenance are necessary to ensure results last as long as possible. 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.

Protection of the gum graft is VERY IMPORTANT to ensure a successful “take” of the procedure. CARE OF MOUTH: DO NOT brush or floss in the graft site for TEN days after surgery. Then you may begin gentle brushing with a soft toothbrush for another two to four days and finally return to normal brushing.

As your gums heal, they absorb the tissue graft, growing new tissue around the surgery site and strengthening your gumline. Follow our recovery guidelines once you're home. You may need to eat a diet of soft foods for about a week.

Why do my gum grafts keep failing?

Smoking is one of the biggest causes of gum graft failure. It constricts the blood vessels in the gums which will harm the healing process of the gum tissue. It is best to avoid smoking while your graft is healing, and quitting altogether would be best for your oral health as well as your overall health.

In addition, patients will frequently complain of a bad smell and indicate their graft is “dead.” Because plasmatic circulation is important to graft survival, pooling of blood — sufficient to form a clot at the interface between host and graft tissues — will be detrimental to success.

Rarely, a patient may develop an infection or the graft will fail to integrate with the existing gum tissue. If you notice any bleeding or other fluid oozing from your surgery site, let your doctor know right away so they can begin treatment for a possible infection. If your graft fails, you may require re-treatment.

After implant surgery, your gums are healing from having an incision made through them. It is vitally important that you avoid drinking hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate after the procedure itself for up to two or three days.

Antibiotics. Your dentist may prescribe you some antibiotics to take for the first week to 10 days of your recovery. Infection is a very big concern when dealing with the mouth, and a gum graft does open the door for such an infection. The antibiotics will help keep you healthy while you heal.

AVOID PEROXIDE, ALCOHOL, CARBONATED BEVERAGES, AND DRINKING THROUGH A STRAW. After 24 Hours. You may have soft foods, such as cooked vegetables, fish, pasta, and meatloaf, which are easily chewed. You should use utensils and avoid chewing at the surgical site for 2 weeks.

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.

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 grafts are commonly needed by patients with gingival recession, or receding gums, to preserve their oral health. In cases of gingival recession, a gum graft may be needed to cover the exposed teeth roots and correct pockets between the teeth and the gums.

Does health insurance cover gum grafts?

Gum grafting is generally covered by insurance plan; however, every patient's plan will have different levels of coverage and out of pocket expenses.

Gum surgery may be necessary for anyone who is suffering from gum disease. This is a common and very serious condition. In fact, most adults will suffer from some form of gingivitis during their lifetime. The severity of the condition will determine what steps one can take to alleviate it.

In terms of eating normally after gum grafting, a liquid diet is recommended for the first few days post-op. On the day of surgery, we recommend eating only cold food and beverages, such as pudding, yogurt, shakes, or ice cream. Do not drink any acidic fruit juice or sodas, and don't use a straw for several days.

Gum tissue grafting fights the damage caused by periodontal disease. By grafting healthy tissue onto weak, receding gums, we can help you prevent ongoing decay and reduce your risk of tooth loss.

Vitamin B Benefits

Vitamin B deficiency can cause receding gums, a sensitivity of mucous membranes, and toothaches. Vitamin B improves general oral health, prevents canker sores, and reduces tongue inflammation. Vitamin B Sources: Fish, meat, poultry, green vegetables, beans, legumes, and mushrooms.

Salt. Saltwater rinses are an excellent at-home treatment for inflamed or receding gums. Simply dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and rinse your mouth for 30 seconds. Rinse with salt water two to three times each day.

Receding gums are an oral health concern when they get to the point where tooth roots are exposed. It leads to a higher risk of decay, infection, and loss. Therefore, if you suspect your gums are receding, or a dental professional has brought it up to you, it's time to seek treatment.

No matter the type of oral procedure, proper care and maintenance are necessary to ensure results last as long as possible. 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.

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.

Soft Tissue Gum Grafts Restore Original Root Coverage

After treatment and healing, many people can barely tell where the graft is because it looks so natural — a perfect match with existing gum tissue.

When is gum flap surgery necessary?

The flap procedure is necessary when severe gum disease (periodontitis) has damaged the bones that support your teeth.

Cost of Gum Graft Surgery

The base cost of a gum graft can be between $600 and $1200 per tooth. A periodontist is a specialist so is likely to have a higher fee. Donor tissue is more expensive than tissue that is harvested from the roof of your mouth.

How many teeth need to be grafted? If you need many teeth in your mouth grafted and want to just get this procedure done once, then alloderm should definitely be considered. 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.

It is recommended that you do not look at the site until after the first post-op appointment. Muscles in your lip and face may manipulate the location of the newly placed graft. Avoid any contact of the graft with your fingers or toothbrush. The whole healing process averages 4-6 weeks.

A gum graft takes one to two weeks to heal. During this time, you'll need to follow strict instructions, including what you can and cannot eat. Your compliance with these directions can affect your outcome.

The gum graft is held in place with very delicate sutures and takes 5-7 days to attach firmly. Repeated pulling back of the cheek, lip or tongue to look at the graft, can cause the graft to move during the first 5-7 days after surgery, which can cause the graft to fail.

Smoking is one of the biggest causes of gum graft failure. It constricts the blood vessels in the gums which will harm the healing process of the gum tissue. It is best to avoid smoking while your graft is healing, and quitting altogether would be best for your oral health as well as your overall health.

Mild pain was most common, being reported 70.3 percent of the time. Moderate to severe pain was reported 29.7 percent of the time. The average duration of pain for gum grafting surgery was 2 days. Periodontal plastic surgery, which includes gum grafting, was associated with more pain than other procedures.

Protection of the gum graft is VERY IMPORTANT to ensure a successful “take” of the procedure. CARE OF MOUTH: DO NOT brush or floss in the graft site for TEN days after surgery. Then you may begin gentle brushing with a soft toothbrush for another two to four days and finally return to normal brushing.

After 24 hours, you may wear your stent as often as you feel is necessary. Most patients report wearing their stent for 5-7 days post-operatively. The stent effectively shields and protects the surgical site on the palate of the mouth when eating, drinking, talking, and sleeping.

Is there an alternative to gum surgery?

Thankfully, there is an alternative to gum surgery. Known as LANAP, it's non-invasive and less uncomfortable than traditional gum surgery while still being effective.

Gum surgery can introduce harmful bacteria into the bloodstream. Gum tissue is also at risk of infection. You may need to take antibiotics before and after surgery if you have a condition that puts you at high risk for a severe infection or if infections are particularly dangerous for you.

Periodontal treatment is very important. It does prevent tooth loss, which can be caused by periodontitis. This treatment also prevents other issues caused by periodontitis, like heart attack risks. You should talk to your dentist if you suspect periodontitis.