How Long Does It Take for a Free Gingival Graft to Heal?
A free gingival graft, or gum graft surgery, is a dental procedure for treating your thinning gums and recession. Gum grafting covers exposed, sensitive tooth roots and will add volume to your gum line, resulting in the improvement of your overall oral health. Recovery usually takes several weeks, but it might take longer. A free gingival graft has a very high success rate and reduces your risk of developing severe gum disease.
What is a Free Gingival Graft?
A free gingival graft is simple and uncomplicated dental surgery. It corrects gum recession, a condition in which your gums pull away from your teeth, exposing your roots. Exposed tooth roots will increase your risk of tooth decay, sensitivity, and bone loss around your teeth. Gum grafting simply replaces the missing tissue around your teeth, both restoring and improving your overall oral health.
A periodontist most often performs a free gingival graft. A periodontist undergoes three additional years of specific training after graduating from a four-year dental school.
Who Needs to Have Gum Grafting?
Your dentist might recommend a free gingival graft if you are experiencing gum recession. Quite often, receding gums are an immediate symptom of severe gum disease, yet you may also be genetically prone to thinning gums. You may also cause your gum recession by brushing too aggressively.
How Common is Free Gingival Graft?
Gum grafting is both a common and frequent procedure. If your dentist determines that you could benefit from gum grafting, they might refer you to a periodontist for an evaluation. Your periodontist will check the health of your gums and measure the pockets around your teeth. They will also check how much recession you have around each tooth.
Depending on the severity, your periodontist may first wish to monitor your recession. Or they might recommend proceeding with a free gingival graft surgery. Your periodontist will discuss your options with you in detail at your consultation.
What Happens During a Free Gingival Graft?
There are several gum grafting techniques and materials used. Your periodontist may take tissue from your palate, the roof of your mouth, and then relocate it to the area of need. In some situations, they might use substitute bleached grafting material, which is available from a licensed bone and tissue bank.
Gingival Graft Recovery
Your free gingival graft recovery might take one to two weeks, but recovery varies from person to person. It is usually more comfortable to use substitute donor tissue rather than harvest a graft from the roof of your mouth.
The immediate area will be tender for a few days. You need to refrain from strenuous activity or exercise for 24 hours following your procedure, but usually you can return to your usual activities the following day.
The discomfort from the free gingival graft recedes quickly, yet sensitivity to harder foods and hot or cold drinks can persist for several weeks. With a free gingival graft used from your palate, the discomfort might feel like a burning sensation on the roof of your mouth. Over-the-counter pain medications are usually sufficient to manage any discomfort. Soft foods will be recommended for several days during your free gingival graft recovery.
Related Article: What is the Success Rate for a Free Gingival Graft?