What is a Gum Graft?
Gum grafting is the process of adding tissue harvest from your own mouth (autogenous graft) or a safe, biocompatible donor source (allograft), which comes from a tissue bank. The new tissue is placed at a site of gingival recession and then sutured in place. This new gum tissue integrates with the existing tissue and restores the gumline to a healthier level. The type of gum grafting recommended depends on the amount of bone loss around the roots of the teeth and the amount of existing gum tissue present. We offer various grafting techniques to address the gum recession needs of our patients.
What Can I Expect From Gum Graft Surgery?
The surgical process takes about 30 minutes per tooth. If consecutive, two or three teeth can be treated in about the same amount of time. Typical follow-up occurs at three weeks, 8-weeks and six-months after treatment. Dr. Mason may recommend yearly recession checks if you have generally “thin” tissues, have many recessions, or are diagnosed with recession at a young age.
What are the Benefits of Gum Grafting?
- Thickens gum tissue to prevent more recession from occurring.
- Decreases tooth sensitivity
- Improves cosmetic appearance
- Reduces risk of root caries
- Improves root coverage of gum tissue
- Increases zone of attached gum tissue
—Louis K.