How Painful is Gum Grafting?
When a person’s teeth appear to be longer than usual or they experience tooth sensitivity when consuming hot and cold food or drinks, it is possible that their gums have receded leaving the tooth root exposed. Gum recession can be caused by several factors including gum disease, tartar buildup, overaggressive brushing, grinding or clenching the teeth, or genetics. Since gum tissue cannot regrow on its own, rockford gum grafting surgery is one of the only remedies available to treat receding gums but patients may avoid the treatment over fear about pain during and after the surgery.
Three Types of Gum Grafting
A periodontist, a dentist that specializes in treating conditions of the gums and supporting bone structures, usually performs the gum grafting. Depending on the specific condition of the patient, the type of gum grafting performed takes on one of the following three forms:
Connective Tissue Graft: The most common type of gum graft, connective tissue grafts are generally used when the patient has multiple areas of gum recession. Using connective tissue taken from the roof of the patient’s mouth, the tissue is stitched over the exposed tooth roots to sufficiently cover and restore the recessed areas.
Free Gingival Graft: Suitable for patients with thin gum tissue that needs to be reinforced, the dentist can take a small portion of tissue from the palate before attaching it to the existing gum tissue around the patient’s tooth. If a larger amount of tissue is necessary or the patient wants to avoid two surgical sites in their mouth, freeze-dried tissue can be used from another source in the procedure.
Pedicle Graft: Uses gum tissue that is adjacent to the exposed roots if the tissue is sufficiently thick and healthy. A small portion of the healthy gum tissue is cut away, rotated, and ultimately stitched into position over the exposed tooth roots.
Managing Pain During the Procedure
Regardless of the gum grafting procedure used or the extent of grafting needed (number of teeth involved), the procedure itself is painless as the doctor will numb the surgical areas with a local anesthetic prior to beginning the surgery. Once the surgery is finished, a dressing will be placed over the grafting area for protection during the patient’s healing process. Patients should expect some pain, discomfort, and swelling once the anesthesia wears off which may last for a few days. To help with any discomfort, the dentist will most likely prescribe pain medicine. In addition, an antibiotic may be recommended to prevent any infection.
Post-Op Care and Pain Reduction
To minimize pain and to prevent unnecessary complications, patients should ensure they adhere to the following post-surgery instructions:
- Should bleeding occur, gauze should be placed on either side of the surgical site but not on top.
- For the first 24 hours after surgery, physical activities should be avoided.
- Try to keep the tongue away from the area and do not pull on the lips to inspect the wound as these can remove the dressing.
- Do not rinse or brush the teeth for 24 hours after surgery. For the first month after surgery, keep the toothbrush away from the grafted area. After 30 days, brush the grafted area gently with a soft bristled toothbrush.
- Avoid hot drinks and food for a couple days post-surgery and only consume soft foods and liquids for the first week. When a normal diet is resumed, use caution when chewing close to the grafting site.
More on Gum Grafting : Gum Grafting Recovery