Gum Grafts

This procedure will stop gum recession and cover exposed tooth roots with a high degree of predictability. Exposed tooth roots are the result of gum recession. Covering these roots which make your teeth appear too long can enhance your smile. Some patients are not concerned by the appearance of these areas, but may experience pain on the root-exposed surfaces to hot or cold foods and liquids.

The causes of gum recession include one or more of the following: 1. Hard Toothbrush, 2. Excessive brushing in an area (we spend more time brushing teeth where we begin and the least time on the last area), 3. Worn or frayed toothbrush bristles, 4. Improper flossing (wrapping or angling too much), 5. Teeth that are tipped or rotated have less gum and underlying bone, 6. The lower premolar area normally has the least amount of gum tissue.

After applying topical to numb the gum surface, local anesthetic is gently administered to numb the area to receive the graft (recipient site) and the palate (donor site). A small pouch is made in the gum of the recipient site. The connective tissue is gently removed from the palate and the overlying gum replaced. This is relatively new and results in much less discomfort than the previous procedure called a free gingival graft. The donor tissue is then carefully placed within the pouch and secured with very tiny sutures.

The graft will stop further recession and bone loss. It will cover exposed roots and protect them from decay. Sensitivity will be considerably reduced. The greatest benefit in using the sophisticated technique called connective tissue grafting is the color blend. Previous techniques resulted in a graft that looked like a patch. Today the blend is absolutely perfect!