What happens if a gum graft fails?

Rarely, a patient may develop an infection or the graft will fail to integrate with the existing gum tissue. If you notice any bleeding or other fluid oozing from your surgery site, let your doctor know right away so they can begin treatment for a possible infection. If your graft fails, you may require re-treatment.

How do I know if my gum graft has failed?

Usually, you can tell you have a failed gum graft because you will have a large white patch of white tissue that has come off the tooth. Sometimes it may even look like the gum graft is falling off.

Is gum graft failure common?

Success or failure of graft will be determined by the periodontist or the operating surgeon. Failure happens in less than 2% of cases.

When would a gum graft fail?

Smoking is one of the biggest causes of gum graft failure. It constricts the blood vessels in the gums which will harm the healing process of the gum tissue. It is best to avoid smoking while your graft is healing, and quitting altogether would be best for your oral health as well as your overall health.

What happens if a gum graft moves?

During healing, sometimes due to severe swelling and/or loosening of the sutures, the graft may move and surgery will not be successful. In such cases, it is necessary to wait until the maturation of the surrounding tissues is complete and try again.

Gum graft failure

Why does my gum graft keep failing?

Rarely, a patient may develop an infection or the graft will fail to integrate with the existing gum tissue. If you notice any bleeding or other fluid oozing from your surgery site, let your doctor know right away so they can begin treatment for a possible infection. If your graft fails, you may require re-treatment.

What is the success rate of gum grafting?

Recovery. The gum grafting procedure has a 90% success rate, therefore patients can feel confident the procedure will benefit them. Recovery from this procedure normally takes 4-6 weeks, during which patients will be asked not to brush or floss near the newly repaired area.

How many gum grafts can be done at once?

The main advantage of using donor tissue for gum grafts is there's no limit in how many areas can be treated at once. Autografts, on the other hand, can only address a few areas at a time due to the invasive nature of tissue harvesting. The two types of donor grafts available are allografts and xenografts.

How long does it take for a gum graft to fully heal?

Gum grafting recovery

Most patients are fully healed in just one to two weeks. Most people do return to work the day after their procedure though. After gum grafting, your teeth may feel more sensitive than usual. Desensitizing toothpaste or mouthwash can help with this discomfort.

What is the white stuff on my gum graft?

For soft tissue “gum” grafts, the site(s) may appear white during the healing process (up to 2 weeks), this is normal and not a sign of infection. The tissue will change to a pink color as it heals.

Does tissue grow back after gum graft?

Once the areas are numb, a small piece of gum tissue is gently taken from around the necks of the teeth on the roof of the mouth (palate). This area heals like a scrape and grows back leaving sufficient gum tissue there.

What color should my gum graft be?

The graft color may change from pink to white. This is NORMAL. Then the color will change to red and then back to pink as the swelling decreases. It is recommended that you do not look at the site until after the first post-op appointment.

When does roof of mouth heal after gum graft?

The palate takes longer to heal than the gum graft and spans from six to eight weeks following the surgery. For the first few days you will experience a burning sensation and it will take about 14 days before the discomfort will stop.

What is the fastest way to heal a gum graft?

Can gum graft surgery be repeated?

If the gum tissue is on top of deteriorated bone, then you may need a bone graft below the soft-tissue graft. This will involve doing two grafts. Depending on your specific situation, you may be able to do both at the same time. This will involve doing the bone graft first and anchoring the new bone in place.

How do I know if my gum graft is infected?

Is gum graft surgery worth it?

Gum grafting is a highly safe and effective procedure; it has been tested and proven successful in treating countless cases of receding and thinning gums due to aggressive brushing and gum disease. Still, complications and infections may occur, especially without proper post-op care.

What are risks of gum grafting?

Potential complications that could occur due to the procedure include severe swelling, infections, uneven healing and loose sutures.

Can your teeth fall out from receding gums?

If the gums recede too much, it may result in bone loss, which can cause teeth to loosen or fall out.

How long do stitches stay in after gum graft surgery?

Sutures (stitches) will usually have to be removed approximately 10 days to 2 weeks following your surgery. Do not disturb the sutures with your tongue, toothbrush or any other device. Displacement of sutures will impair healing and affect the success of your procedure.

Can I use Listerine after gum graft?

No undiluted mouthwash, salt water or peroxide rinses should be used during the first week following surgery. Also avoid the use of water irrigation devices such as Water-piks for 1 month following surgery.

Do gum grafts shrink?

The biggest risk to gum grafts is that they may not heal properly. They also may not integrate with the surrounding gum or may shrink while healing, resulting in less coverage than anticipated.

Can I drink coffee after gum graft?

Eating: Maintaining an adequate diet after surgery is essential. Cold or warm temperature foods are recommended for the first day. Coffee or tea can be consumed if it is not hot. After the first day, stay on a soft but balanced diet.

Why is my gum graft yellow?

After Surgery

Avoid hard and crunchy foods. Doing any of these can disrupt clotting, the healing process, open the incision and cause the graft to fail. The graft will go through the "ugly duckling" phases: it may look white, yellow, red or pink. Do not worry about the area.

What does healing gum tissue look like?

Once the clot forms, your body will start building granulation tissue to cover the wound. This tissue often appears a creamy white color and consists of collagen, white blood cells, and blood vessels.