Gum graft surgery is the surgical method used for repairing receding gums, especially when roots of the teeth get exposed due to receding gum line. Receding gums can give rise to several problems such as tooth decay, plaque formation, cavities and teeth hypersensitivity. Sometimes receding gums can also lead to complications like loss of the underlying jaw bones that support the teeth. The gum tissues, which are known as gingival actually act as a barrier against bacteria and also protect the teeth from trauma or injury. So, loss of gum tissues or recession exposes the roots and the underlying bones to microorganisms, which can eventually result in cavities, caries, hypersensitivity and tooth erosion.
A very thin layer of tissue is removed, generally from the roof of the mouth and grafted onto the gums around the exposed root of a tooth. This is a procedure which is very commonly necessary for individuals who have suffered from periodontitis. This is a serious disease that is caused by untreated gingivitis. It leads to pockets in the gums, which go as deep as the roots and sometimes, leave the bones exposed. Gum grafting ia an amazing way of repairing the gum loss.
In gum graft surgery, a surgeon removes some tissues from the roof of the mouth or palate, and then places and sutures it to the receding gum line, in order to cover the exposed part of the root. Sometimes, the surgeon removes the surface skin of the roof of the mouth, along with connective tissue and then relocates it to the affected areas. However, this procedure can leave an exposed wound at the donor site and can be quite painful. Therefore, most of the time, gum graft surgery involves the removal of the connective tissues that lies in between the surface tissue of the roof of the mouth and the bone. For this, the surgeon makes an incision to get the connective tissues from under surface of the palatal tissue. This procedure involves less pain and even the wound is much smaller.
The healing process with gum grafting surgery is usually relatively quick. Uniformity of the gums can be seen in as soon as six weeks time. Your periodontist might instruct you to rinse your mouth several times a day with lukewarm water or a special prescription to aid in the healing and in relief of any associated discomfort.