When should I see a doctor after gum graft?

Gum Tissue Graft: When to Call the Doctor

Bleeding that won't stop after applying pressure for 20 minutes. More pain, swelling, and bruising than your dentist said to expect.

How do you know if you have an infection after gum graft?

Infection – this is very rare but it can be a complication associated with gum grafts. This will be evident with pain, inflammation, and also most importantly pus coming from the area of the graft. Please do not be confused by just having pain and swelling from the area as this is normal.

How do I know if my gum graft is failing?

What are gum graft failure symptoms? If your gum graft failed, you'll probably notice a large patch of white tissue that has come off of your tooth. Its lack of color means that the gum graft lost blood supply and is dying.

How do I know if my gum graft is healing?

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.

How long should I have pain after gum graft?

Pain Medications

It is not unusual to have discomfort for at least the first week following your surgical procedure. If necessary you will be given a prescription for medication to help you tolerate the post-surgical recovery period. Please take your medications as directed.

Ask a Dentist: Gum Grafting 101

Why is my gum graft so painful?

The reason it's more painful is that they harvest the donor tissue from the surface of the roof of the mouth. This leaves the underlying gum tissues completely exposed and therefore in pain. Connective tissue grafting – this procedure is significantly less painful than a free gingival graft.

Why does my gum graft still hurt?

The pain that is experienced has to do with underlying connective tissue being exposed to the oral cavity and getting irritated by rubbing of the tongue and food. 14 days after surgery, the superficial layer of the skin of the donor site will become thicker.

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 2 weeks?

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 common is gum graft failure?

Gum grafting surgeries have a success rate of up to 90%. Besides, with local anesthesia, you should not experience any pain during your treatment. Afterward, your dentist will prescribe pain medication to help you manage your soreness after the numbing wears off.

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?

The glue is purple and firm and may come off in pieces at any time after surgery, so do not become alarmed if this occurs. DO NOT pull the lip out or rub cheek in the area of the graft since this may dislodge the graft.

Do failed gum grafts hurt?

These failures rarely cause pain however do cause psychological distress to the patient. It was important to reassure the patient at this stage that such failures can occur. Fortunately they are rarely complete failures and some keratinised tissue cells remain.

How can you tell if a graft is infected?

The clinical clues suggesting graft infection especially those placed superficially include an inflammatory perigraft mass, overlying cellulitus, presence of exposed prosthetic graft, a sinus tract with persistent purulent drainage and/or bleeding and/or a palpable anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, graft thrombosis and ...

How much swelling is normal after gum graft?

Swelling is the body's normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. Your swelling may increase until 3 days post-operatively. This is totally normal. If you experience an increase in swelling beyond the third day or an increase in discomfort, call our office.

When does swelling peak after gum graft?

Some swelling may be present and may peak at 48-72 hours after surgery. Warm compresses will reduce swelling and bruising after 36 hours if needed.

How long do gum graft stitches stay in?

Sutures (stitches) may have been placed to hold the gums in the proper position for the ideal healing. Some sutures will dissolve on their own. Others will usually be removed 1-2 weeks after surgery depending on your procedure. Some may be left longer, depending on procedure.

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.

When does gum graft dressing fall off?

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.

What color should my gum graft be?

For soft tissue “gum” grafts, the site(s) may appear white during the healing process (up to 2 weeks), this is normal and not a sign of infection. The tissue will change to a pink color as it heals.

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.

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 helps gum graft heal faster?

How long after gum graft can I brush my teeth?

A: You may resume brushing and flossing all teeth except the surgical area 24 hours after surgery. Avoid brushing the surgical area until your stitches are removed or have dissolved depending on the type of stitches placed for your procedure.

What is the most common cause of graft failure?

Acute rejection is the most common cause of graft failure based on the primary biopsy diagnosis.