How Painful is CTG (Continuous Tissue Graft)?
If you suspect that you have receding gums, see your dentist. Sometimes, you can tell your gums are receding just by looking in the mirror and seeing exposed tooth roots. Other signs of possible gum recession include:
- Discomfort or sensitivity when cleaning the teeth, either while brushing or flossing
- Pronounced sensitivity to extreme temperatures or sweet foods and drinks
- Discomfort, or even pain, at the gum line
- Painful dental visits
While periodontal disease is a common cause of gum recession, it isn’t the only cause. Some people’s gums are damaged by friction, like brushing incorrectly or the pressures of a tongue or lip piercing, while others are affected by poor oral hygiene, underlying health issues, smoking, chewing tobacco, injury, certain medications, or even simple genetics. Regardless of the cause, prompt treatment of gum recession can fend off all sorts of long-term oral health issues.
If you’re considering getting gum grafts and have heard about connective tissue grafts, you probably have lots of questions, including whether or not CTG surgery is painful. The good news is that all types of gum grafts are painless, thanks to the local anesthetic your periodontist uses to numb the surgical sites. If you’re particularly nervous about your procedure, you can ask your dentist about additional anesthesia or sedation options; in most cases, however, a local anesthetic is sufficient for blocking pain, though you’ll feel some movement and pressure in the surgical areas. Most connective tissue grafts are completed in an hour or less.
As the anesthesia fades, it’s normal to feel some discomfort or pain, which can be managed with over-the-counter medications and some attention to simple aftercare. The extent and duration of pain will vary depending on the type of graft used, though many patients report that connective tissue grafts are less painful than cosmetic periodontal surgery. Reported pain levels also depend on each person’s pain tolerance. In nearly 75% of cases, patients report mild pain that lasts well under a week, and many patients report that their pain levels before surgery, when their sensitive tooth roots were exposed, exceed pain levels during recovery. Even though the pain from CTG might subside quickly, it’s important to observe longer-term aftercare instructions to ensure complete, effective healing and full integration of the graft site.
In the first day or two after CTG, some discomfort and swelling are common. Swelling may briefly increase before subsiding, and your periodontist will want to see you in one or two weeks to remove your sutures and give your gums a checkup. Until this checkup, take special care to keep the oral cavity clean while avoiding the surgical sites. Your dentist will give you specific instructions and might prescribe or recommend a specialized mouth rinse to support healing. Over the next month, the grafted connective tissue merges with the gums as they begin to share a blood supply. This integration continues for the next several months, gradually developing a fully uniform color and appearance and effectively protecting once-vulnerable tooth roots. As the gum tissue continues to strengthen, it becomes more supportive and protective, improving the oral health and encouraging the strength and health of the bone and teeth that rely on it. For most patients, a lifetime of pain-free smiles is worth a few days of post-surgery inconvenience and discomfort.
Related Article: Difference between an FGG and CTG?