Am I a Candidate for Free Gingival Graft?
Patients who suffer from gum recession or thinning gum tissue may be a candidate for gum grafting. A free gingival graft is one type of grafting that is used to treat areas of thin tissue in an effort to prevent recession. Gum grafting is a great option for most patients but a periodontist will be able to determine what type of grafting is appropriate for you according to your individual needs.
Left untreated, both thinning gum tissue and gum recession can lead to bone loss and eventually tooth loss. Recession can also be a very painful condition to live with, causing severe tooth sensitivity and pain when eating or drinking cold things.
What is a free gingival graft?
A free gingival graft is typically the type of graft that is used for patients with insufficient tissue. Tissue is harvested from the roof of the patient's mouth and transferred to the affected gum line. The harvested tissue is stitched into place and the harvested area is sutured up before a periodontal dressing is applied. Gauze is usually placed over the dressing to protect it for a few hours until you get home. Usually after 30 minutes or so you can remove the gauze and the dressing will stay in place for a few days or until you return for a follow up visit at which point your periodontist will remove the dressing.
Am I a candidate for a free gingival graft?
It is important to understand the different types of grafting and what they are used for. If you have severe gum recession with exposed tooth roots, you will likely need a connective tissue graft or another procedure besides a free gingival graft. The free gingival graft does not cover exposed root surfaces and is only used to prevent recession in areas with thinning tissue.
The procedure for a free gingival graft takes about one hour per tooth and will take a couple of weeks to fully heal. Most patients are safe to return to school or work after a day or two but will need to make changes to their diet and oral hygiene routine.
For the first couple of days, it is important to eat foods that do not require a lot of chewing. Foods like yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, or pudding are great options. After a day or two, you will be able to incorporate very soft cooked foods like pasta, fish, and well-done vegetables.
If you suffer from mild gum recession or thinning gum tissue, speak with your dentist to see if you might be a candidate for gum grafting. They will provide a referral to a periodontist who will evaluate you further and provide any treatment necessary.