How Long Does It Take Gum Grafting to Heal?
Having your gums recede is something that happens with the natural process of aging. Gum grafting is a treatment available when some situations are worse than others. Gum recession affects the visual perception of your natural smile because it takes your teeth to gum ratio out of balance. More importantly it can also have oral health implications. Receding gums expose the roots of the teeth. The hard surface enamel that protects the crown is absent on the root, so this elevates both sensitivity and bone loss. It can also result in the eventual loss of the tooth. Gum grafts are recommended, common, and beneficial. Your recovery and healing will depend on your own ability to heal, the extent of the grafting being done, the donor source of the grafting tissue and your own self-control when it comes to following recovery instructions.
Causes that Accelerate Gum Recession
Gum grafting might be necessary for some adults and not for others because of the result of gum or periodontal disease. This is often the result of an accumulation of plaque on your teeth which is the primary source of gum infection. Your poor oral hygiene habits may not have kept up with the plaque buildup. Tobacco products are hard on your gum tissue and so is diabetes. Your genetics will also influence the health of your gums and even your toothbrushing techniques will contribute to gum recession. By brushing aggressively with a stiff bristle toothbrush, you will definitely accelerate gum recession.
The Gum Grafting Procedure
A simple and common process, the area to be corrected will be numbed with a local anesthetic. Then your dentist has three sources for the donor tissue. They will quite often take some tissue from your palette or the roof of your mouth. Occasionally there may be excess soft tissue available in your gum itself and the third source might be a tissue bank. The grafting tissue is sutured into the place of need, and so is the source site. Your primary objective through the healing process is to protect the sutures.
The Recovery or Healing from Gum Grafting
You must follow some strict instructions for a week or two. That is when your follow-up exam is scheduled to monitor and review your healing process. During the first week you will not brush your teeth anywhere near the suture sites. You will also experience some soreness and discomfort for a few days following the surgery. It is also important to maintain a diet of soft foods and to minimize any biting and chewing. It will be suggested you monitor your food and drink temperatures, favoring colder food and drink. In just two short weeks, you will be allowed to brush again, and your gums will be completely healed within a month.
The Benefits of Gum Grafting
A huge health implication is actually saving your teeth by minimizing bone loss. There is the value of your smile that is often overlooked or taken for granted. Gum grafting restores the proper ration of teeth to gum for that healthy perspective of your smile. A healthy smile impacts so much of your life. It is considered the foundation for your self-esteem and self-confidence. Collaborate with your dentist in establishing good oral hygiene habits.