Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville, TN
If you have receding gums, the team of oral health professionals at Tusculum Dental Care can perform a gum graft.
When you have a gum graft, tissue is removed from elsewhere in your mouth and placed over the area where your gums have receded. Donor tissue also can be used. Once your mouth heals from the procedure, you will have an even gum line again, and your smile will be restored. A gum graft also protects against potential issues caused by gum recession that can threaten your oral health. When you have receding gums, it causes your tooth roots to become exposed and thus at greater risk of damage and potential decay, and tooth sensitivity. A gum graft protects these roots by surgically attaching gum tissue to cover the top of the exposed roots.
When successful, a gum graft should accomplish the following:
- Prevent additional gum recession
- Repair any damaged gum tissue
- Safeguard against other gum problems, including gum disease
- Prevent decay in tooth roots, which may have been exposed by gum recession
- Diminish any increased sensitivity in teeth caused by receding gums
- Restore an even-looking gum line, thus improving the appearance of your smile
What can I expect from a gum graft?
You will be numb throughout the procedure to ensure you remain comfortable. By using our state-of-the-art dental laser to perform the surgery, we can minimize bleeding, discomfort afterward, and reduce the risk of infection. While downtime afterward may be minimal, you will likely feel some tenderness in the gum area where treatment took place. It is advised that you stick to a diet of soft, cool foods for the first few days to a week, and avoid anything spicy. We will provide you with specific postoperative instructions on how to care for your mouth following this procedure.
Tusculum Dental Care can perform three different types of gum graft procedures:
- Connective-tissue – The most common type of gum graft performed, this procedure takes tissue from the roof of the mouth and places it on the area needing treatment.
- Free gingival – Achieves the same result as a connective-tissue graft, but takes the tissue from the palate using a slightly different surgical method.
- Pedicle – Achieves the same result as the other two types of grafts, but tissue is taken adjacent to the tooth being repaired.
Is a gum graft right for me?
Our general policy at Tusculum Dental Care is not to consider performing a gum graft until after other treatments have been attempted to stop gum recession. One of our Greeneville dentists will conduct a thorough examination of your oral health, while also evaluating your medical history, before performing a gum graft.
You can do your part to prevent receding gums by maintaining a comprehensive regimen of at-home oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily, and visit your dentist in Greeneville twice each year for a professional cleaning and thorough oral health examination. And, if you use tobacco in any form, please try to quit.
Gum Grafting in Greeneville
If you or a member of your family has receding gums and you would like more information about our gum grafting procedure, contact our office at (423) 639-7575 to schedule a consultation.
Tusculum Dental Care is proud to provide the highest level of oral health care possible to individuals in the areas of Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin, Tennessee.