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Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, affects more than 40% of women and men aged 30 or older. Without treatment, gum disease can lead to receding gums, which put your teeth at risk, too. Your teeth rely on healthy gums in order to maintain their position.
Complications of gum disease can cause permanent tooth loss.
If you have periodontal disease, your dentist may recommend gum grafting surgery to restore your gums. When you get the news, you probably have a lot of questions about the procedure. Why is it done? Is it your only choice? What happens before, during, and after gum grafting?
At Central Avenue Dental, our expert dentists restore your gum health and protect your teeth with gum grafting surgery. We perform gum grafting at our offices in Valley Stream, New York, as well as the Tribeca and Midtown East neighborhoods of Manhattan in New York City.
Do you need gum grafting? Following is a guide we’ve prepared to help you understand what to expect when you’re scheduled for this procedure.
Healthy gum tissue helps hold your teeth in place. When your gum tissue wears away — due to issues such as periodontal disease, overly harsh brushing, or tooth grinding — issues such as tooth sensitivity, root-surface cavities, and tooth loss may arise.
Gum grafting reverses gum recession to keep your teeth stable and healthy.
During your consultation, you and your dentist discuss the reasons why you’d benefit from gum grafting. You also choose the type of gum grafting procedure that’s most appropriate for your case.
Before you undergo a gum graft, we give you pre-operative instructions, such as quitting smoking for at least two weeks and avoiding blood-thinning substances. Even healthy foods and supplements such as ginkgo biloba may increase the risk of bleeding during the procedure, so be sure to follow our instructions.
We also ask for a list of any medications you may be on. If any of these could increase the risk of bleeding or bruising, we work with your care team to adjust the dose.
Step one of your gum grafting is one you appreciate right away: We administer a local anesthetic that numbs the treatment area where we will place the graft. The anesthetic ensures you don’t feel any pain.
If you’re anxious, or very sensitive to pain, we may also recommend sedation dentistry.
Once you’re numb and comfortable, your dentist harvests a graft from another portion of your gum. They prepare the tissue and then carefully position it over the recessed area. They then stitch the graft into place.
As your graft heals, it integrates with your existing gum tissue. The graft then promotes further healthy tissue growth so that your exposed roots are covered and protected.
We provide you with aftercare instructions so you can recover well and speedily from your grafting procedure. You can use over-the-counter pain relievers or prescribed medications to manage any discomfort. We also recommend:
Focus on soft foods for the first few days after surgery. Yogurt, mashed potatoes, and smoothies are good options for getting your nutrients without irritating your operative site. Stay away from hot, spicy, or crunchy foods.
Take your recovery as an opportunity to let your body rest. We recommend that you avoid strenuous activities and exercise for at least a week. This helps prevent excess bleeding or swelling.
We let you know when it’s OK to resume normal activities. Be sure to attend follow-up appointments to have any stitches or dressings removed. We also monitor your healing so you don’t develop an infection or complications.
If your gums would benefit from gum grafting, please contact us to schedule a consultation. Also reach out by phone or online form if you notice signs of gum disease, such as bleeding or aching gums.
