Gum Grafting Recovery
Gum grafting is a common procedure performed on millions of people every year to reverse the damage caused by receding gums and prevent further damage from occurring. Receding gums occurs for many reasons, with the most common reason being gum disease. If you’ve been told by your dentist that you need a gum grafting procedure performed, you’ll likely want to learn more about what you can expect and what the recovery from the procedure entails. Read on to learn more.
What is gum grafting and why is it important?
Gum grafting is a procedure performed on an out-patient basis using local anesthesia. During the procedure, the dentist will suture donor tissue to the existing tissue where the gums have receded. This donor tissue typically comes from the roof of the mouth. Over time, the donor tissue and existing tissue heal together forming a new gum structure and reversing the damage done by receding gums. The procedure is generally pain free from the local anesthesia.
Gum grafting is important because receding gums can lead to numerous other oral health issues. Over time, receding gums will eventually expose the roots of the teeth and create pockets behind the gumline where bacteria and plaque can build, furthering gum disease. Left untreated, this will eventually lead to tooth and possibly bone loss in the mouth.
What should I know about gum grafting recovery?
The total healing time from gum grafting will vary from person to person depending on their own unique circumstances and overall health. In general, though, the mouth will be fully healed in about two weeks. Here’s what you can expect over those few weeks:
- It is likely that you will experience discomfort both at the donor site and the procedure site once the local anesthesia has worn off. This discomfort is usually managed with over the counter or prescribed pain medications, and it will gradually get better over a few days.
- After the procedure, you’ll be given specific post-procedure care instructions. This is important because it will make sure your mouth has the best chance of recovering quickly and fully. These instructions will include how to brush and floss following the procedure. For the first week at least, you’ll likely be told to avoid or brush very gently around the procedure sites. Over time, you’ll be able to return to your normal oral hygiene habits.
- Immediately following the procedure, you will not able to eat a normal diet. For the first 24-48 hours it is important to eat a soft diet that does not contain spicy, hard, crunch, chewy, sticky, or hot food. This is because all these things can damage the procedure sites. You will gradually be able to return to a normal diet over the course of the recovery, but this will take time and depend on how your mouth is healing. Your dentist will be able to give you a specific diet recommendation as well as the length of time to follow it.
What does this mean for me?
Each person is different and therefore, each gum grafting procedure and recovery is different. Speak with your dentist today to learn more about the specifics of your recovery from gum grafting.