Gum Grafting Recovery

The recovery process following a gum grafting procedure will vary from patient to patient and will largely depend on what type of graft you are having performed. If you are using donor tissue for your graft, your pain should be minimal, as should the recovery time; however, if the grafting material is taken from the roof of your mouth, you will experience slight to moderate discomfort during and after your procedure, and the recovery process will be longer.

The severity of your gum recession will also inform the length of your recovery period. If you have significant gum recession and are using your own tissue for the grafting material, the process of having the gum graft placed will be more significant than patients whose gum recession is less severe and/or for patients using donor grafting material.

Concern over the discomfort experienced during the procedure along with the recovery process involved may be a deterrent for some patients. If you are currently avoiding scheduling an appointment for gum grafting or have concerns about the discomfort involved, both during and following the procedure, contact your dentist or periodontist, who can discuss local anesthetic and dental sedation options that can be administered during the procedure, as well as pain-relieving medications that may be provided following your procedure.

Aftercare During the Recovery Process

Once the anesthetic and/or sedation wears off, discomfort or pain will begin to present. When this occurs, there are several ways you can manage this discomfort. One of the most common method for dealing with post-procedural pain following a gum grafting procedure is over-the-counter or prescription pain relieving medication. Patients who are at an increased risk of developing an infection may also be prescribed antibiotics. Regardless of what type of medication you take, be sure to follow the prescribed dose.

Swelling is also common following a gum grafting procedure, but this can generally be managed using ice packs. One important thing to be aware of when using ice packs to reduce swelling is that the ice packs should never be left on the swollen area for more than twenty minutes at a time.

Additional steps you can take to reduce pain or discomfort following your gum grafting procedure, reduce your risk of developing complications, and speed up the overall healing process include the following:

• Gauze should be kept on the site until bleeding has stopped
• Do not brush the gum graft site until the area has fully healed. During this healing process, you can use a special mouth rinse.
• Avoid strenuous physical activities for 1-3 days following the procedure
• Follow a soft food diet for one to two weeks, slowly reintroducing harder foods, saving hard or crunchy foods for last.

If you closely follow these steps, your recovery period should be fast and the pain level minimal. If you have been following these steps and are still experiencing pain, bruising, or swelling that seems unusual or excessive, contact your dentist to schedule a follow-up appointment.

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