If you have periodontal disease, chances are you may also struggle with receding gums. This can cause unwanted discomfort, sensitivity, and even tooth loss over time. With soft-tissue grafting, your doctor can re-establish your gum line, avoid further deterioration, and enhance your smile.
DID YOU KNOW?
With proper at-home oral hygiene and periodontal care, your gum grafts can last a lifetime.
Why do I need Soft Tissue Grafting?
Restoring your gums with soft tissue grafting helps protect your remaining teeth, reducing your risk of future tooth loss due to gum disease. Along with other periodontal treatments, it’s an ideal solution for patients with moderate to advanced gum disease. You’ll also experience less tooth sensitivity, and enhance the natural appearance of your smile.
Minimally Invasive Technique
We specialize in minimally invasive soft tissue grafting to address gum recession using advanced microsurgical techniques like tunneling. This method allows us to perform grafts with minimal disruption, enhancing comfort and accelerating recovery. We offer grafts using either your own tissue or high-quality donor tissue, and we incorporate growth factors to optimize healing. Additionally, Dr. Alvarez is certified in the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique, a no-sutures, minimally invasive method that provides a virtually painless and efficient alternative to traditional grafting. Dr. Alvarez will assess your condition to determine the most suitable treatment, whether it be traditional grafting or the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique. Our commitment is to restore your gum health and smile with the highest level of care and precision. If you are experiencing gum recession, schedule a consultation to explore your treatment options and start your journey toward optimal oral health.
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The Benefits of Soft Tissue Grafting
Reverse Gum Damage
Serious cases of gum disease or things like over brushing aggressively can cause gum recession and damage, which may harm your oral health. With soft tissue grafting, you can reverse most or all of this damage, and smile proudly once again.
Enhance Your Smile
Receding gums can make your smile look unbalanced, giving you a “toothy” smile since your gums have receded. Soft tissue grafting restores the natural shape, lines, and volume of your gums. This, in turn, makes you more confident in your smile.
Minimize Tooth Sensitivity
Not only does gum recession affect your appearance, but it also can make your teeth sensitive. Some of the lower parts of your teeth will be exposed, and these are more sensitive to heat, cold, and pressure. With soft tissue grafting, you can cover these teeth up and mitigate sensitivity.
The Soft Tissue Grafting Process
Initial Consultation
First, you’ll need to meet with your periodontist to discuss your oral health and get an exam. They will look for signs of receding gums, and take x-rays of your mouth to check the overall health of your gums and teeth. Then, your periodontist will let you know if you’re a candidate for soft tissue grafting.
Soft Tissue Grafting Surgery
Your periodontist will clean and numb the treatment site. Then, they’ll take some oral tissue from elsewhere in your mouth and carefully suture it to your gums with delicate, fine stitches. Over time, this tissue will heal and bond with your existing gum tissue, restoring your oral health.
Healing & Aftercare
Your periodontist will send you home with a set of recovery instructions. Your mouth will mostly be healed within 1-2 weeks, though it could take up to 4-8 weeks for your mouth to heal completely.
Before & Afters
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the new gum tissue come from?
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Soft tissue grafting typically uses an “autograft.” This means that your oral surgeon will take tissue from elsewhere in your mouth, then apply it to your gums. This tissue is most often harvested from the roof of your mouth. In some cases, tissue from other sources may be used.
Does soft tissue grafting hurt?
No. Your mouth will be completely numb during your appointment, so you won’t feel any pain or discomfort. Your mouth may hurt after your numbing wears off, but this discomfort will go away after a few days. If you continue to feel a lot of pain, contact your oral surgeon for a follow-up.
Can I eat or drink after my surgery?
Yes. You can eat or drink as soon as you want to after surgery. However, you should only eat soft foods, since tough and crunchy foods could cause pain and interfere with the healing process.
How long does it take to recover?
It takes most patients about 1-2 weeks to recover. To speed up your recovery process, you’ll want to make sure you follow their healing instructions closely as you heal from your gum grafting procedure.
