Am I a Candidate for Free Gingival Graft?

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

Who Can Benefit from Gum Grafting?

When deciding if you are indeed a viable candidate for gum grafting, it is essential to identify whether the condition of your teeth will benefit from the procedure.

If you have gums that have receded and have exposed the roots, you experience sensitivity from those receding gums or are bothered by the appearance of your smile due to the gum recession, you will benefit from this procedure. Gum grafting will restore an attractive and healthy appearance to your smile, as well as covering up unsightly cementum on your roots.

Free gingival tissue grafts offer a variety of benefits:

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

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

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

An infection.
Excessive bleeding.
Rejection or failure of the gum graft.
If you observe any heavy bleeding, pus, or anything that does not look right, contact your dentist right away.

Is a Free Gingival Graft Worth It?

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

Left untreated, your gum recession will result in cavities, severe gum disease, tooth mobility, and even tooth loss.

Your Overall Health and Gum Grafting

To be a viable candidate for a free gingival graft, you need to be in good health with healthy gums. If your gum disease is not under control, having a gum graft procedure will be meaningless and will fail because of future recession.

The teeth covered during gum grafting need to be healthy, since infected teeth can easily develop further infection if they are subjected to grafting. Certain health conditions, like autoimmune diseases and diabetes, may also remove you as a candidate for a gum grafting procedure.

If it is determined that you are a suitable candidate for gum grafting, you must be fully committed to the process. You must make choices that keep your gums healthy, and by not making these commitments, you will experience poor results requiring correction in the future.

When Should You See Your Dentist?

Contact your dentist if you have thin, painful, bleeding gums or if your roots are visible. Be sure to continue to practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for routine dental cleanings. These appointments will help keep your teeth and your gums healthy and allow your dentist to detect issues early before they lead to other oral health problems.