Do Gums Grow Back After Bone Graft?
Advanced gum disease, or periodontitis, gradually destroys the oral tissues, leading to tooth loss and, eventually, loss of bone in the jaw. If you’ve experienced bone loss, whether due to periodontitis or for another reason, your dentist may have talked with you about bone grafts, and you may have additional questions about the pros and cons of the procedure, including questions about how bone grafts might affect your gums and whether damaged gum tissue can grow back. The answer to this question requires an understanding of the way bone and gum tissue develop and the way bone grafts work.
How Are the Gums Involved in Bone Grafts?
Before placing a bone graft, any existing gum disease must be treated so that healing can progress. To treat periodontitis, a periodontist carefully cleans beneath the gums, removing any tissue that is damaged beyond repair and smoothing the tooth surfaces to allow inflamed gum tissue to adhere to the teeth. Periodontitis causes the gums to recede as they grow inflamed and infected, and this deep cleaning calms existing healthy gum tissue, allowing it to settle around the teeth. While this may seem like new gum tissue is growing, the fact is that new gum tissue won’t grow back – but existing gum tissue can heal, and other treatments, like gum grafts, can further repair the gum tissue. Gum tissue is also involved when it comes to dental bone grafts. Of course, the gums cover the jawbone, and an incision must be made in the gums to expose the bone. This incision is stitched closed, and the gum tissue heals over the grafted bone. Many dentists also use guided tissue regeneration therapies, which use strategically placed barrier membranes to keep the gums where they belong and prevent gum tissue from filling in spaces where bone needs to grow.
What Role do the Gums Play in Healing from Bone Grafts?
The healing process following a bone graft takes several weeks, though much of this healing time involves new bone growing at the graft sites. Initial recovery, during which the gum tissue heals around the graft site, takes a few weeks. As healing continues, the graft material begins to stimulate natural bone growth, and any barrier membranes or graft material are absorbed by the natural tissues. The bone should fully heal within a few months, with healthy gum tissue set up to protect the bone and support future dental restorations, like implant-supported crowns. The timeline for healing following a bone graft and the overall success of the graft depends on the type of material used for the graft, the general health of the patient, adherence to proper aftercare methods, including effective oral hygiene, and the expertise of the dentist. When bone grafts are placed as a result of damage from periodontitis, especially, extra attention is placed on aftercare. Periodontitis arises because of ineffective or inadequate oral hygiene, which allows destructive bacteria to flourish in the oral cavity and below the gum line and cause inflammation and discomfort. In order for the bone grafts to succeed and for the gum tissue to properly heal, it’s crucial for the teeth and all the oral tissues to be cleaned regularly and allowed to thrive. In light of the time and money required for bone grafts, learning and practicing effective oral hygiene is a worthy habit to embrace and will help keep the bones and gums healthy and strong for the duration. Your dentist and dental hygienist will make sure you’re aware of proper brushing and flossing techniques and will monitor your teeth and gums at routine checkups, helping to guarantee the long-term success of your dental bone graft.