Gum Grafting

Gum grafts are used to replace gum tissue that has receded from the teeth, exposing a significant amount of tooth root. Patients experience gum recession for a variety of reasons. Most patients have a receding gum line because of periodontal disease. Other causes include brushing too aggressively, misaligned teeth, or excessive teeth clenching and grinding. Candidates for gum grafting are bothered by the appearance of their receded gum line and may be experiencing pain or sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages because of the exposed tooth roots.

Gum grafting patients enjoy being able to smile with confidence again. Some benefits:

• Gum grafting allows us to plump and augment gum tissue in any area where the gum has receded away from the tooth, providing a more attractive smile.
• With gum grafting, we are able to halt the gum recession and bone loss, preventing further dental problems by protecting exposed roots from decay.
• If only one area of your gum line has receded, gum grafting can make the gums appear more symmetrical and appealing.
• After gum grafting, most patients experience reduced tooth sensitivity to hot and cold, giving them more freedom to eat the foods they enjoy most.

Recent surgical innovations have made this procedure safer and more effective than ever before. For instance, the dentists no longer use tissue taken from the roof of the patient’s mouth to perform gum grafting, which can cause discomfort. Instead, for the graft procedure AlloDerm is used, it is a human tissue derivative manufactured under standards of the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. AlloDerm promotes tissue regeneration by teaming up with your body’s own regenerative process. This material is as safe to use as your own tissue; no disease transmission has ever been reported and less surgery is required. During your procedure the dentist first administers a local anesthetic and then begins gently repositioning the tissue just beside the receding gum line. Then, the AlloDerm tissue is placed at the site of the gum recession and secured using either an adhesive or stitches. The procedure can be performed for one tooth or several teeth.

Grafting procedures have little risk. The procedure is usually very successful and healing times are relatively short. Because we do not take tissue from other parts of your mouth, recovery after a gum graft with AlloDerm is faster and less painful than traditional methods. You will need to take extra care of the surgical area for several days until the grafted gum tissue has begun to heal. After recovery is complete, you will have a healthier looking smile and gain the freedom to speak and eat more comfortably.