What is a Free Gingival Graft Procedure?

The goal and objective of a free gingival graft procedure is to reconstruct a layer of gum, or the gingiva, tissue around a tooth to restore the protective support the tissue offers. A free gingival graft is tissue harvested from the tissue on your palate, or the roof of your mouth. With a free gingival graft procedure, there is really no effort made to deliberately cover the exposed root surface. For this reason, free gingival grafts are quite often considered for patients who are just lacking adequate gum tissue yet have not experienced any significant gum recession.

What is a Gum Graft?

A gum graft is a simple and common dental surgery. It most often treats gum recession, which is when your gum tissue pulls away from your teeth, now exposing the tooth roots below the gumline. Exposed tooth roots will increase and accelerate your risk of tooth decay, increase sensitivity to both hot and cold, and advance and intensify bone loss around your teeth. Gum grafting will replace the missing tissue around your teeth and improve your overall oral health.

A periodontist most often performs a gum grafting procedure. In the United States, a periodontist will attend three additional years of specific focused industry training following graduation from a four-year dental school.

Who Needs to Have Gum Grafting?

Your dentist, in all likelihood, will recommend gum grafting if you are suffering from gum recession. Receding gums are quite often a symptom of severe gum disease, but you might also be genetically prone to the thinning of your gums. You can also cause and create gum recession if you brush too aggressively or use a stiff-bristle toothbrush.

What are the Benefits or Advantages of Gum Grafting?

Gum tissue grafts offer a variety of benefits, such as:

Reducing the risk of gum disease.
Reducing your risk of cavities since exposed tooth roots are vulnerable to decay.
Decreasing advanced tooth sensitivity.
Improving and restoring the appearance of your healthy smile.

How Common is Gum Graft Surgery?

Gum grafting is a common and frequent periodontal procedure performed. Some specific genetic profiles can lack adequate gum, or gingival, tissue, and for these patients, a free gingival graft procedure represents an ideal and proven way of returning them to proper periodontal health.

Free gingival grafts are also sometime preformed if you were to undergo orthodontic treatment or if a crown or another restorative treatment is being considered. Crowns can be a source of chronic inflammation if you lack sufficient gum tissue. Free gingival grafts have been proven to be a successful and predictable treatment. Once performed, a free gingival graft can easily last your lifetime.

The primary limitation of a free gingival graft is that the procedure cannot specifically cover exposed roots, but it serves to stop any further recession. In addition, gum from your palate might be a lighter shade of pink than the gum around your teeth, and this might have a slight cosmetic impact. Finally, the donor site may be sore for up to a week while your body heals.