Gum Grafting in Spring, TX

Commonly affecting many Spring, TX patients, receding gums can disrupt your dental health and smile. Gum (gingival) recession occurs when periodontal (gum) disease causes the gums to pull away from the tooth, revealing the root surfaces. Not only does this affect the look of the smile, it elevates the risk of damage and decay to the roots of the teeth. An advanced periodontal technique, Made Ya Smile Rayford offers gum grafting for patients who need repair for their gums to gain a healthier level and revitalize the smile. With specialized training and extensive experience, our periodontist is here to help you decide if a gum graft treatment is best for your unique needs. Our caring team can help you learn more about gum graft procedures, and we invite you to schedule your consultation today.

Most often, a receding gumline is caused by gum (periodontal) disease but can arise from a number of sources. Some of these contributing factors may be teeth grinding or clenching, over-aggressive brushing techniques, bite misalignment, and oral piercings, or even genetics in some cases. You may find, if you suffer from gum recession, that your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold temperatures or even brushing and flossing. There may be a change in your gumline, or you may notice that your teeth look longer or discolored. These signs or symptoms may indicate a receding gumline and should be evaluated by a periodontist. We offer several treatment approaches through gum grafting care to help you restore the comfort and appearance you want in your smile.

In a gum grafting procedure, gum tissue is taken from your own mouth or another healthy source and is attached to areas of the gumline that have receded. This treatment balances the gumline by covering exposed tooth roots and returning it to a more ideal position on the teeth. We want you to be as comfortable as possible during your treatment at Made Ya Smile, and we will thoroughly numb the treatment areas prior to beginning. We can also provide sedation techniques if you need them to reduce anxiety around your visit.

Our periodontist will determine the right method of gum grafting based on the needs they discover during your treatment consultation. Most commonly, connective tissue grafts are used, which is a procedure that takes healthy gum tissues from just under the top layer of tissue on the surface of your hard palate. With free gingival gum grafts, tissue from the surface of your hard palate is used. When there is a lot of tissue near a tooth with gum recession, it may be ideal to use pedicle grafts. During this type of graft, a flap is created in the nearby gum tissue, which is then stretched over the tooth to cover the exposed tooth root. Biocompatible synthetic sources or a soft tissue bank may be used to source gum graft materials when our periodontist determines it is not a good option to use tissue from your own mouth.

Once complete, gum tissue samples will be sutured in place over the areas of gum recession on your teeth. During healing, the new gum tissue will begin to blend seamlessly with the surrounding tissue, creating a more even, healthier-looking gumline. Separate visits may be needed if you have several areas that require care. Our team will provide care instructions for you to follow after your gingival recession treatment.

It's best to wait to eat until the numbness from the anesthesia has completely dissipated after your procedure. We also recommend reducing physical activity and taking it easy for the first few days after your procedure. Non-prescription pain relievers and cold compresses applied to the lower facial areas should help with any post-procedure soreness and discomfort. A soft food diet can also help manage tenderness until it subsides. It will take some time for your new gum tissues to integrate with your gumline and finish healing.

It's vital during this recovery phase, that you follow our periodontist's recommendations on brushing and flossing. This will give your grafted areas the chance to fully heal and produce the best possible results for your treatment. To help keep plaque and bacterial buildup under control as you recover from your gum graft surgery, we may recommend medicated mouth rinses. A follow-up visit will be scheduled at Made Ya Smile a few weeks after your procedure so we can see how you are healing.

We accept most PPO dental insurance plans at Made Ya Smile. Our business team will work with your provider to find out if your plan covers a gum grafting treatment prior to the beginning of your procedure. For personal expenses and those not using dental insurance, we will go over our convenient payment options with you as well as information on flexible payment plans provided by our financing partner, CareCredit®.

Gum recession can negatively affect the look of your smile and your overall oral health. With gum grafting care from our periodontal specialist, it's possible to return your gumline to a more attractive, healthy position, protect exposed tooth roots, and reduce tooth sensitivity. If you're wondering whether a gum grafting treatment can help your smile, call us today to schedule a consultation with our skilled periodontist at Made Ya Smile in Spring, TX.