What should a gum graft look like after 5 days?

Do not look at the surgery site after leaving here. Some areas may remain sore for 5 to 6 days. The grafts may be a whitish or grayish appearance for 4 to 6 days after surgery, but this is normal until full blood circulation is restored.


What should a gum graft look like after one week?

The gum tissue will undergo changes for the next 1-2 weeks. 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.

How do I know if my gum graft is healing properly?

You will know that healing has begun when the soft tissues are shrinking and there is less swelling. The gum tissues gradually starts to bind to the root surface and nearby bone surface as well. New vessels will also start to form and the tissues will receive enough blood supply.


What color is a failed gum graft?

You will know if you have failed gum graft because the graft will be very white. Immediately see your periodontist see what the next step is.

How do I know if my gum graft fell off?

If the gum tissue is destabilized from the recipient site, this is a sign of gum graft failure. A large white patch is typically seen around the area because the tissue has died and has failed to receive adequate vascularity from the surrounding tissues.


Ask a Dentist: Gum Grafting 101



What does a failed graft look like?

WHAT DOES A FAILED SKIN GRAFT LOOK LIKE? Compromised or failed skin grafts are characterized by continuous pain, numbness, fever, discoloration, redness, swelling, or a breakdown of tissue. The most obvious sign of an unhealthy skin graft is darkening skin that lacks the pink appearance of healthy skin.

Can you dislodge a gum graft?

Hard foods – chewing may dislodge the gum graft. Chewy foods – even vegetables. Although they are healthy, they may require more chewing than is recommended as you heal from your surgery. Hot foods –they will burn your gums, increasing sensitivity and pain.

When can I look at my gum graft?

The gum graft is held in place with very delicate sutures and takes 5-7 days to attach firmly. Repeated pulling back of the cheek, lip or tongue to look at the graft, can cause the graft to move during the first 5-7 days after surgery, which can cause the graft to fail.


What is the white stuff on my gum graft?

Typically, the white stuff is granulation tissue. It is essential to the healing process of the extraction site. Other times, the white stuff is pus or a dry socket. A dry socket is often painful, and it occurs when the blood clot does not form correctly.

How long until gum graft feels normal?

Gum grafting recovery

Healing usually is quick. 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.

What does a failed gum graft feel like?

Patient may experience pain, described as a constant dull ache or sharper pain during mastication or speaking (movement of oral and peri-oral tissues). Patient experiences anxiety over procedure and perceived lack of success.


How do I know if my gum graft is infected?

  1. Pain that won't go away with medication.
  2. Steadily swelling of gums, jaw, or face.
  3. Redness or oozing of pus from the area.
  4. Fever that doesn't subside.
  5. Difficulty opening the mouth or jaw.
  6. Excessive bleeding for 24 hours.
  7. Difficulty breathing or swallowing (emergency situation)


When does pain peak after gum graft?

It is not unusual to have discomfort for at least the first week following your surgical procedure, though for most procedures and most patients the first night, and first 2-3 days will have the worst pain/discomfort.

How long does gum graft putty stay on?

You may have a pink putty band-aid lying across the surgical site. This should be left on for at least 2 to 3 days. It allows gums to heal a bit before exposing to air, liquids and food. You may remove the putty yourself after 3 days by gently picking or peeling it loose.


How long does packing stay on after gum graft?

In most cases the dressing is left in the mouth for a period of 7-14 days and may be changed once or more by the doctor during this time. Try to keep the dressing in placed until your next appointment. If the dressing becomes loose or comes off, do not try to push it back.

How do you clean a gum graft site?

Protection of the gum graft is VERY IMPORTANT to ensure a successful “take” of the procedure. CARE OF MOUTH: DO NOT brush or floss in the graft site for TEN days after surgery. Then you may begin gentle brushing with a soft toothbrush for another two to four days and finally return to normal brushing.

Why does my gum graft look GREY?

The grafts may be a whitish or grayish appearance for 4 to 6 days after surgery, but this is normal until full blood circulation is restored.


What not to do after gum graft surgery?

AVOID PEROXIDE, ALCOHOL, CARBONATED BEVERAGES, AND DRINKING THROUGH A STRAW. After 24 Hours. You may have soft foods, such as cooked vegetables, fish, pasta, and meatloaf, which are easily chewed. You should use utensils and avoid chewing at the surgical site for 2 weeks.

Should I not talk after gum graft?

Avoid Talking (As Much As Possible)

Talking causes your mouth's muscles to stretch, which, in turn, can loosen up the gauze and increase the chances of bleeding. Refraining from speaking is hard, but try to remain silent as much as possible for the first two to three days after gum grafting surgery.

What does a skin graft look like when it is healing?

At first, the colour of the grafted skin may appear red or purple, but it should begin to look more like your surrounding skin over time. It can take a year or two for the appearance of the skin to settle down completely.


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.

How common is graft failure?

Incidence of graft failure

In the standard setting of FIC HLA-identical sibling transplantation with no T-cell depletion, the rate of graft failure is of the order of 1–2%. T-cell depletion increases the risk of graft failure. Recipients of RIC transplants are also at higher risk of this complication.

How often are gum grafts 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.


What is the fastest way to heal a gum graft?

Ways To Speed Up Healing After Gum Grafting Surgery
  1. Don't rush yourself. To speed up healing, start by going slow. ...
  2. Use ice packs for swelling. ...
  3. Manage the pain with over-the-counter meds. ...
  4. Start with an all-liquid diet. ...
  5. Rinse with water and sea salt. ...
  6. Get plenty of Vitamins A and C. ...
  7. Have a bag of tea.


Is it common for gum grafts to fail?

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.