What happens if you don't do gum grafting?

If left untreated, bacteria can build up over time and penetrate the roots, traveling all the way down to the jawbone. Over enough time, bacteria can even force teeth to fall out. This is a severe gum disease called periodontitis. To resolve this, tissue will be taken from the mouth and placed over the gums.

Is gum tissue graft necessary?

A gum graft may be necessary to protect your teeth from the damaging effects of gum recession, or you may choose to have one to improve the appearance of your smile. Gum recession is the process in which the tissue that surrounds the teeth pulls away from a tooth, exposing more of the tooth or the tooth's root.

Is gum surgery necessary?

Gum graft surgery is recommended when the gums have receded enough to expose the roots of your teeth. As the gums recede, they form pockets between the tooth and the gums, which become a breeding ground for bacteria buildup.

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.

How long will a gum graft last?

There's no scalpel or sutures, so healing is rapid. Treatment is significantly faster than standard gum grafting. Treatment is permanent and if the cause of recession is corrected, it will last for years.

Receding Gums Can Now Be Corrected Without Gum Grafting Surgery

How risky is gum graft?

If the procedure was handled by a skilled and experienced dentist, the gum graft procedure is totally safe and the complications are minimal. Potential complications that could occur due to the procedure include severe swelling, infections, uneven healing and loose sutures.

Can gums recede after gum graft?

They will bring your gumline back down and cover the tooth roots that were exposed. Gum grafting will result in a more even gum line, and your teeth will no longer appear to be overly long. Your gums can recede again, but this is dependent upon you.

How painful is a gum graft?

The actual gum grafting procedure is painless. This is because a local anesthetic is used to numb the affected area. A periodontist, who is a dental specialist in gum disease and the gums, typically performs this procedure. You may instead feel some movement or pressure as your periodontist performs the procedure.

How much does a gum graft cost?

Cost of Gum Graft Surgery

The base cost of a gum graft can be between $600 and $1200 per tooth. A periodontist is a specialist so is likely to have a higher fee. Donor tissue is more expensive than tissue that is harvested from the roof of your mouth.

Do gum grafts look natural?

The gum grafts rarely looked natural, even after they had healed, and the whole process was very uncomfortable and painful for the patient.

What happens if you don't get gum surgery?

Very often, surgery is the only way to restore health because the gums have begun to recede and pull away from the tooth structure. When they do this, the gums can appear elongated. Sometimes, the base of the tooth and roots will become exposed, creating an increased likelihood of developing a serious infection.

How can I avoid gum surgery?

One of the most important things you can do to avoid having to undergo gum surgery is to take proper care of your teeth and gums. This simply requires you to gently brush your teeth at least twice a day and carefully floss your teeth at least once a day.

Do gums grow back?

While your gums won't grow back on their own, surgical treatment can be used to replace the missing tissue, and restore both your appearance and your oral health. Gum grafting involves taking soft tissue from another part of the mouth and grafting it onto your gums.

Is grafting necessary?

Do I Need a Bone Graft After Tooth Extraction? A bone graft is usually necessary after a tooth extraction since the bone can start to melt away. This can cause your facial features to sag, so a bone graft can help provide needed structure and support.

How do you fix receding gums without surgery?

How do you stop receding gums from getting worse?

One of the most important things you can do to avoid further gum recession is to brush and floss your teeth twice daily. If your gums have receded due to aggressive brushing, be mindful of the force you are applying while brushing and use a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Is a gum graft covered by insurance?

Gum grafting is generally covered by insurance plan; however, every patient's plan will have different levels of coverage and out of pocket expenses.

How many teeth can be gum graft at once?

How many teeth need to be grafted? If you need many teeth in your mouth grafted and want to just get this procedure done once, then alloderm should definitely be considered. If you use your own tissue, the most teeth you can typically graft at once would probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of 7-8 teeth.

How long is recovery from gum graft surgery?

A gum graft takes one to two weeks to heal. During this time, you'll need to follow strict instructions, including what you can and cannot eat. Your compliance with these directions can affect your outcome.

Can a gum graft fail?

Are there risks of complications after a gum graft? A gum graft is a highly successful procedure that does not usually lead to complications. Rarely, a patient may develop an infection or the graft will fail to integrate with the existing gum tissue.

Are receding gums fixable?

From fluoride treatments to implants, it seems like there's a fix for all our dental woes. However, when it comes to gum health, preventative care is still the best treatment. Receding gums do not regenerate, which means that when your gum tissue is lost, it's gone permanently.

Can gums UN recede?

The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.

Who is not a candidate for gum graft?

The tooth or teeth to be covered by a gum graft have to be healthy, too. An infected tooth or teeth might not benefit from gum graft and can cause further infection if not treated. Teeth that are too loose may not serve as an adequate anchor for a gum graft.

Can a dentist reverse receding gums?

Treatment for gum recession

Gum recession can't be reversed. This means receded gum tissue won't grow back. However, you can keep the problem from getting worse. Treatment usually depends on the cause of the gum problems.

How do you get a free gum graft?