Gum Grafting

Also known as a gingival graft or periodontal plastic surgery, gum grafting is a process that covers an exposed root created by gum disease or over-aggressive brushing.

The process involves taking some tissue from elsewhere in the mouth, usually the roof of the mouth, and placing it over the exposed area. There are different types of gum grafts that we can conduct depending on the patient’s dental history and the condition of their teeth and gums-

● Free gingival graft- the damage gum tissue is reinforced by layering it up with tissue from the palate. The healing process is very quick.
● Subepithelial connective tissue graft- exposed tooth roots are covered by tissue taken from the palate.
● Acellular dermal matric allograft- we use donated human tissue to create a graft for the gum.

Why do we conduct gum grafts?

Gum grafting is a great reparative treatment for those who suffer from sensitivity due to exposed tooth roots or those who are at risk of further damage to their teeth and gums. It can also improve the aesthetic appearance of teeth by ‘shortening’ them.

The process

At the start of the procedure, we thoroughly clean the patient’s teeth and administer a local anaesthetic. Once the area is numbed, tiny pockets are made at the site being treated so that the grafted tissue can be implanted. Small stitches are used to keep the graft in place and then a surgical dressing is applied and left on for around a week. It takes about six weeks for the gum to heal.

The whole process is delicate but very quick and delivers fantastic results. Our practitioners are highly skilled and experienced in both functional and cosmetic surgery and go out of their way to make patients feel at ease and answer all of their questions. We map out a treatment plan before any procedures take place and make sure that the patient offers their consent having thoroughly discussed each stage and post treatment effects.