Gum Grafting Alternatives

A gum graft is a great way to restore receding gum tissue but not everyone necessarily needs a gum graft. Receding gums can be a result of poor oral hygiene, medical problems, genetics, smoking, and even some medications and can cause a lot of pain and sensitivity for patients.

Gum recession causes the route surface of the tooth to become exposed and makes very hot or cold foods and beverages painful to consume. Left untreated, gum recession can cause a loss of jaw bone structure and even tooth loss! If you’re experiencing sensitivity from receding gums, you may not require a gum graft but instead, your dentist may advise an alternative treatment. In this section, we will review alternatives to gum graft treatment.

Scaling and Root Planing

A deep cleaning is a great first step to help heal sensitive teeth and irritated gum tissue. Scaling and root planing is usually completed over two or more visits because it is necessary for the patient to undergo a local anesthetic in the area being treated, so only one quadrant or one half of the mouth is worked on at a time.

Your hygienist will use manual tools to scrape plaque and bacteria out of your gum pockets which are located below the gum line between the gum tissue and tooth structure. When all of the plaque and infection have been removed, the gum tissue will be able to heal closer to the tooth surface and cover any previously exposed roots.

Gum Contouring

Gum contouring is performed using either a soft tissue laser or a scalpel to reshape the gumline. Gum contouring is commonly used to treat a gummy smile but the same process can clear bacteria and plaque out of the gum pockets and allow the gum tissue to heal closer to the tooth surface. If your dentist does not perform gum contouring in their office, they may refer you to a periodontist for treatment. A local anesthetic is used for this procedure as well but can usually be completed in one visit.

Gum Graft

When scaling and root planing or gum contouring is not sufficient for treatment, your doctor may suggest a gum graft. A gum graft is a procedure in which the doctor harvest a piece of healthy tissue from the roof of your mouth, or may use a previously harvested piece of tissue from a donor cadaver, and stitches the tissue into place over the affected area. The graft will integrate with the existing gum tissue as you heal. This procedure can be used on one or multiple teeth.

Gum Regeneration

This last option is reserved for patients with such severe gum recession that the jaw bone has been affected. For this procedure, it is necessary for your doctor to perform a bone graft before performing the gum graft.

Any procedure listed above is going to be a little painful during recovery but your discomfort should be manageable with over-the-counter pain medications. If you feel that you are experiencing a higher level of pain, call your doctor so they can see you to evaluate the area and make sure that you are not developing an infection.

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