Alternatives to Gum Grafting

There are a few options available to you if you are considering gum surgery. A lot of people are concerned with having a nice smile and that includes having a healthy smile with even gums! Unfortunately, gum recession is quite common but thankfully, it can be treated. In this section, we will review gum graft surgery as well as a few options available as an alternative to gum grafting at precision periodontics and implant dentistry.

Treating Gum Recession with Gum Graft Surgery

There are a few causes that can lead to receding gums. These include but are not limited to poor oral hygiene, medical issues, periodontal disease, genetics, smoking, and some medications. There are a few factors that can lead to receding gums. These include but are not limited to poor oral hygiene, medical issues, periodontal disease, genetics, smoking, and some medications. A patient can also irritate their gums and cause them to recede with overly aggressive brushing.

When the gum tissue recedes, it exposes the root of the tooth and can lead to extreme temperature sensitivity, loss of bone structure and even tooth loss. A gum graft is a great way to treat receding gums.

A small piece of soft tissue is harvested from the roof of your mouth or your doctor may use tissue that was previously harvested from a cadaver and frozen. This tissue is then sutured over the exposed area and allowed to heal and integrate with the rest of the healthy gum tissue to cover the route. A gum graft can be performed on one tooth or multiple teeth. If necessary, the entire gum line can be treated with a gum graft.

Recovering from gum graft surgery can be painful and your doctor will likely prescribe pain management medications along with your postoperative care instructions to make sure that you are able to heal quickly and get back to your normal life and regular eating habits.

Scaling and Root Planing

Your dentist or dental hygienist message us that you have a scaling and root planing, or a deep cleaning. This is basically a more intense dental cleaning and involves scraping below the gum line. Since this area is sensitive, you will be numb during the procedure. Most of the time, this procedure is split into two visits and only one side of the mouth is done at a time so that your entire mouth is not numb.

Your hygienist will clear all of the bacteria and plaque buildup from the gum packets that are between your gum tissue and tooth surface. Once the pockets are clear of infection, they will begin to heal closer to the tooth surface and cover any route surface that has been exposed. A scaling and root planing is often the first step before any other treatment is attempted to heal receded gums.

Gum Contouring

Gum contouring is a bit simpler than a gum graft. For this procedure, a soft tissue laser is used to reshape the gum tissue to allow it to heal in a better position over the tooth. Some offices still use a scalpel for this procedure, but either way, a local anesthetic will be applied before treatment so that you are numb and do not feel anything!

After the gum tissue has been reshaped, it will allow the tissue to heal evenly and the pockets between the teeth and gums will not be as deep, allowing the gum tissue to keep black and bacteria from accumulating in the gum pocket.

Gum Regeneration

One more option is gamma regeneration. This treatment is generally reserved for more severe cases of gum recession that has led to jaw bone damage. Gum generation helps encourage both bone and soft tissue growth. The procedure involves your doctor pulling back a section of gum tissue and placing a bone graft into the affected area. Once the bone is sufficiently integrated, your doctor can place new gum tissue over the affected area.

More information on Gum Grafting : How Painful is Gum Grafting?