How many appointments do you need for a gum graft?

It requires two dental appointments

The first dental appointment usually involves undergoing the actual gum grafting procedure. It is necessary for patients to return for a second appointment in order to ensure that the surgical area is healing as it should and to remove any stitches as necessary.

How long does a gum grafting procedure take?

How long does the procedure take? When arriving at our dental office for a gum grafting procedure, you can expect the entire process to take about 1-1.5 hours. While the surgery itself should take no longer than one hour, it is best to allow for extra time to ensure you are comfortable.

How urgent is gum graft surgery?

Gum graft surgery for gum disease

Getting treatment as soon as possible and when it's in the earlier stages is the best way to prevent permanent damage and tooth loss.

How many teeth can get 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.

Is a gum graft considered major surgery?

Although a gum graft is not considered major dental surgery, it is best to consult with a specialist (periodontist) for optimum results. Preventing the need for gum grafts starts with knowing why gum recession occurs: Heredity – You can't change who your ancestors are, but you can take steps to manage your oral health.

Ask a Dentist: Gum Grafting 101

When is it too late for gum grafting?

In some cases, it may be too late for gum grafting to save the gums. If your gums are severely damaged, receding so far back that they expose the tooth's root, or if there is significant bone loss from advanced gum disease, gum grafting may not be able to restore them to their healthy state.

Is gum grafting worth it?

Is gum graft surgery worth it? Gum grafting boasts high success rates of over 90%. This procedure gives you the best chance of treating gum recession and improving your overall oral health. Left untreated, gum recession can result in cavities, severe gum disease, tooth mobility and even eventual tooth loss.

Is gum grafting 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.

What is the average cost of gum grafting?

The average cost of gum graft surgery ranges from $600 to $1,200 per tooth. If gum contouring is performed to give the gums a more attractive appearance, it may add several hundred dollars to the total cost. Additional factors that impact the price of gum grafting include: Number of teeth being worked on.

How painful are gum grafts?

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.

Can I drive home after a gum graft?

For the most part, patients can drive themselves home after a gum graft. Local anesthesia (novocain) is typically used to numb the areas where the procedure takes place. In some cases, patients opt for a sedative. In this case, transportation will need to be arranged to travel home from the dentist's office.

Are you put to sleep for gum graft?

During your gum graft surgery, you'll probably be awake like most people, or perhaps opt to be sedated. Most patients do not require anything more than local anesthetics to numb the area.

Can you go to work the day after gum graft?

You should be able to resume light activity and even return to work after the first 24 hours, but because you'll be eating less and should avoid talking, it's best to stay home and off your feet for at least three days if possible.

What percentage of gum grafts are successful?

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.

Does a gum graft require stitches?

Sutures connect the soft tissues around your teeth together to help speed up the healing process. They allow us to close the wound in the surgical site. In other words, you need dental sutures to hold your gum grafts in place.

Do gum grafts look natural?

Because the “tunnelling” gum graft approach is minimally invasive, your new gum graft will be a natural pink color and look so natural, most of our patients cannot even tell which teeth were treated and which were not.

Is there an alternative to gum grafting?

One of the more popular alternatives to having a traditional gum graft performed is a newer procedure called the Pinhole Surgical Technique. Much like orthoscopic/laparoscopic surgery, this minimally invasive procedure corrects gum recession by making a small hole in your gumline.

Is gum graft a minor surgery?

You may benefit from a gum graft. This is a minor surgical dental treatment that reverses the effects of receding gums. It replaces protective tissue around the tooth, lowering the risk of tooth decay and damage.

How often do gum grafts fail?

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

How long is the recovery for a gum graft?

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.

Do gum grafts fail?

Of the many different different types of dental surgical procedures, gum grafts have a higher chance of failure. However, when done with an experienced and knowledgeable periodontist, you will have the highest chance of gum graft success.

How do you get a free gum graft?

All free gingival graft treatments involve the surgical manipulation of soft tissues in your mouth. After you have been numbed, the periodontist will remove a section of soft tissue from one area and carefully suture it to the place where you have gum recession.

Does gum graft change your smile?

Soft Tissue Gum Grafts Restore Original Root Coverage

Treatment depends on each individual, but if its only a question of gum recession — showing a little more root — soft tissue gum grafts can be an ideal solution. Everyone who undergoes the procedure ends up with a more youthful smile.

Will my teeth fall out if my gums recede?

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

Who is not a candidate for gum graft?

Someone whose teeth are healthy

There is no reason to perform a gum graft for a tooth that is very loose or severely damaged. Instead, any tooth problems must be treated before undergoing the gum grafting procedure.