You may have heard horror stories about Gingival Grafting procedures, but the truth is they’re nowhere near as bad as you would think. In fact, they can often be almost painless, thanks to modern medicine and technological advancements.
If you haven’t heard of Gingival Grafting before, you may be wondering what it is and how it works. The term ‘Gingival Grafting’ is one that covers a range of periodontal procedures that support the structure of the teeth. This also includes grafting of the gum area.
This type of treatment might sound like it’s only necessary for severe dental problems. However, that’s not always the case. Gingival Grafting can be used to treat a range of oral health concerns and could well be a treatment that at some point, you will need.
If your gums have started to recede, at some point in the future you may need to undergo grafting treatment. As our gums recede, they can often expose areas of the tooth and root that need to be protected. When this happens, the supporting bone of the tooth can be damaged, and the exposed root can start to cause pain and sensitivity. There’s also the fact that as the root becomes more exposed, it can start to look unattractive.
The problem with gum recession is that because it’s such a gradual process, you may not even notice that it’s happening. Over time, your gums will slowly start to recede. The reason that gum recession occurs depends on a range of factors. However, the most common causes include trauma, genetics, tooth positioning, and poor oral health.
The issue is once your gums have receded to a point where it’s noticeable, it’s often too late to do anything. If you’re able to catch the problem early – look out for symptoms like bleeding gums and soreness, it can be treated without surgery. Of course, if it’s advanced to a critical stage, the only option for improving your oral health tends to be Gingival Grafting surgery. The good news, however, is that this tends to be a highly effective treatment method.
This type of procedure uses tissue from other areas of your mouth, as well as synthetic tissue, to improve the appearance of your gum line. Small pockets of tissue are taken from the roof of your mouth and then are positioned over the affected area. This is usually performed using a local anesthetic or sometimes under sedation.
By adding tissue to areas where the gums have receded or caused a root to be exposed, the gum line can be restored. This will help to prevent pain and sensitivity caused by the root, and will also stop the tooth from falling out.
In many cases, Gingival Grafting may be necessary to save the tooth. It may not be a procedure that you want to have done, but it’s nowhere near as bad as you would think. The worst part tends to be the recovery, as the procedure itself can be almost painless.