Am I a Candidate for Free Gingival Graft?

Gum grafting is a frequent and common procedure to restore your gums that may have receded and pulled away from your teeth because of the presence of periodontal disease. This treatment offers terrific improvements in both restoring the appearance of your smile and protecting your tooth roots. Gum grafting could be a great option for quite a few people, yet it is still important to know whether you are a candidate or not for the treatment.

Who Can Benefit from Gum Grafting?

When determining if you are a viable candidate for gum grafting, it is crucial to identify whether the condition of your teeth will indeed benefit from a free gingival graft.

If your gums have receded and exposed roots, you are experiencing sensitivity from the receding gums, or are annoyed by the appearance of your smile from the gum recession, you will benefit from the procedure. Gum grafting restores an attractive and healthy appearance to your smile, as well as covering up unsightly cementum on the roots.

Free gingival tissue grafts provide a variety of benefits:

Will reduce your risk of gum disease.
Reduces the risk of cavities because your exposed tooth roots are vulnerable to decay.
Will decrease the sensitivity of your teeth.
Improves the visual appearance of your smile.

What are the Risks or Complications of a Free Gingival Gum Graft?

Complications after free gingival graft surgery are uncommon but can still happen. Complications could be:

Excessive bleeding.
An infection.
Rejection or failure of the gum graft.

If you observe any heavy bleeding, pus, or something that does not look right, visit your dentist right away.

Is a Free Gingival Graft Worth It?

Free gingival grafting success rates are above 90%. This procedure gives you a significant chance of treating your gum recession and improving your overall oral health.

If left untreated, your gum recession will cause cavities, severe gum disease, tooth shifting, and even complete tooth loss.

Your Overall Health and Gum Grafting

To be a candidate for a free gingival graft, you must be in good health with healthy gums. If your gum disease has not been addressed, having a gum graft procedure will be a waste and will fail from future recession.

The teeth covered during your gum grafting need to be healthy, because infected teeth will easily develop further infection when subjected to grafting. Certain health conditions, like an autoimmune disease and diabetes, might also remove you as a candidate for a free gingival graft procedure.

If it is identified that you are a viable candidate for gum grafting, you must commit to the process. You must make choices that will keep your gums healthy, and if you do not make a commitment, you will experience poor results requiring future correction.

When Should You See Your Dentist?

Contact your dentist if you have thinning, pain, bleeding gums, or if your roots have become visible. Continue to exercise good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for consistent dental cleanings. These appointments keep your teeth and gums healthy, allowing your dentist to detect issues early before they create other oral health problems.