Five Things You Must Know Before Considering Gum Grafts

A typical dental issue encountered by many is gum recession. If your gums are receding, it exposes the tooth roots, making you susceptible to tooth decay and loss of teeth. Fortunately, you have the option of getting gum grafting to correct the problem with receding gums.

If you haven’t heard about gum grafting, we suggest reading this article to understand the five things you must know before considering this procedure.

Gum Grafting Explained

Your gums protect your teeth and their roots. You may experience gum recession resulting in exposing your tooth roots. The problem is known as gingival recession or receding gums. On occasions, the optimal method to correct the situation is to undergo a gum graft surgery, also called a gingival graft.

Gingival grafts are offered if you have receding gums. The surgery requires the removal of tissue from your palate and grafting it into the recession site. You can also undergo the surgical procedure using a donor tissue or synthetic material.

You may suffer from gum recession because of improper oral hygiene practices or techniques. Gum recession occurs only when you develop gum infections like periodontitis because of improper oral hygiene techniques and avoiding visits to dentists for regular cleanings and exams. However, as you are already affected by gum recession, making your teeth appear longer than average, you can seek help from the dentist in Seattle, WA, to benefit from the gum grafting procedure. However, before you consider gum grafting, here are five things you must consider.

1. Is Your Smile Unattractive?

One of the primary things people notice about you is your smile. However, if you have receding gums exposing your tooth roots, the situation can make you uncomfortable and self-conscious of your smile. Gum grafting restores the aesthetics of your beautiful smile to give you the confidence needed to greet everyone with a gleaming smile showing off your pearly whites.

2. Tooth Root Sensitivity

Your tooth roots become visible as your gums recede. You can experience pain and discomfort from tooth root sensitivity. In addition, your teeth become sensitive to hot and cold temperatures and sugary beverages, making the sensations unbearable. Gum grafting surgery helps cover your gums to eliminate root sensitivity enabling you to eat and drink as you usually do.

3. Tooth Decay

Exposure of your teeth because of gum recession makes them susceptible to tooth decay. In addition, your exposed tooth roots are particularly vulnerable to decay. Gum grafting protects your teeth from corrosion, ensuring you can keep your natural teeth in your mouth for a lifetime.

4. Supporting Bone Loss

If you leave gum recession untreated, you risk losing bone holding your teeth roots in your mouth. The condition is concerning because whenever you experience supporting bone loss, the eventual result of the problem is tooth loss. Therefore if you neglect getting gum grafting, you may require tooth replacement solutions for your missing teeth.

5. The Surgical Procedure

Gum grafting is a surgical procedure completed by the dentist in Seattle in approximately 90 minutes. You don’t need to remain at a hospital or any other facility overnight because the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and the dentist determines which particular approach best suits your needs.

The procedure itself is relatively straightforward and doesn’t require any special preparation. However, it helps if you arrange for a ride back home because you may not be in a position to drive after receiving sedatives. The Seattle dentist provides you with all information on how to care for your gum grafting procedure after you undergo it.

Recovering from Gum Grafting

Recovering from gum grafting doesn’t require much time. However, you can make your recovery proceed smoothly using the following after-care tips.

• Take any medications or antibiotics prescribed by the dentist as directed.
• Do not use tobacco products of any kind during your recovery.
• Avoid having crunchy and hard foods besides spicy foods until you recover from the procedure.
• Brush and floss your teeth carefully without irritating the surgical site to need treatments from the emergency dentist near me.
• Dentists recommend using mouthwash to freshen your breath.

Everyone reacts differently to gum grafting surgery. Some people experience more pain and discomfort than others. However, you must recover within 10 to 14 days by following your dentist’s instructions and taking recommended medications.

Whether you need gum grafting for aesthetic or medical reasons, understand the things you must consider before undergoing this procedure to improve your appearance and overall health.