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 thinning gums and recession. Gum grafting will cover exposed, sensitive tooth roots and add volume to your gum line, therefore improving your overall oral health. Recovery most often takes several weeks, but it could take longer. A free gingival graft has a high success rate and will reduce your risk of severe gum disease.
What is a Free Gingival Graft?
A free gingival graft is an uncomplicated dental surgery. It will correct gum recession, a condition in which your gums pull away from your teeth and expose the roots. Exposed tooth roots increase your risk of tooth decay, sensitivity, and bone loss around the teeth. Gum grafting quite simply replaces the missing tissue around your teeth, restoring and improving your overall oral health.
A periodontist usually performs gum grafting. A periodontist earns three additional years of specific training after graduating from a four-year dental school.
Who Needs to Have Gum Grafting?
Your dentist could recommend a free gingival graft if you have gum recession. In many cases, receding gums are an immediate symptom of severe gum disease, but you might also be genetically prone to thinning gums. You could also cause your gum recession by brushing too aggressively.
How Common is a Free Gingival Graft?
Gum grafting is a common and frequent periodontal procedure. If your dentist identifies that you could benefit from gum grafting, they will refer you to a periodontist for an evaluation. Your periodontist checks the health of your gums and measures the pockets around your teeth. They 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 is an assortment of gum grafting techniques and materials used. The periodontist might take tissue from your palate, the roof of your mouth, and relocate it to the area of need. In some situations, they could use a substitute grafting material, which is available from a licensed bone and tissue bank.
Gingival Graft Recovery
Your free gingival graft recovery may take one to two weeks, but recovery will vary from person to person. It is usually more comfortable to use donor tissue rather than harvest a graft from the roof of your mouth.
The immediate area is tender for a few days. You should refrain from strenuous activity or exercise for 24 hours after your procedure, but most often you can return to your usual activities the following day.
The pain from the free gingival graft receded quickly, but sensitivity to hard foods and hot or cold drinks may persist for several weeks. With a free gingival graft taken from your palate, the discomfort might feel like burning the roof of your mouth. Over-the-counter medications are usually adequate to manage any discomfort. Soft foods will also be recommended for several days during your free gingival graft healing.
Related Article: What is the Success Rate for a Free Gingival Graft?