When you think about a beautiful smile, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Many people tend to immediately think about the condition of the teeth. Ideally, a beautiful smile is one full of perfectly straight, dazzling white teeth. While an important factor, your smile also depends upon the condition of your gums. In addition to helping to provide you with a stunning smile, the gums are also important for your oral health. They protect the roots of your teeth and your jawbone by providing a tight seal around your teeth. They also help to stabilize your teeth in addition to your jawbone and periodontal ligaments. If your gums have been affected by the recession, your smile deteriorates, as does your oral health. At Optimum Oral Surgery Group, we can help with gum grafting.
What Causes Gum Recession?
Gum recession can happen for many different reasons. These include:
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Gum, or periodontal, disease. Gum disease occurs when plaque and bacteria build up on your teeth and implants and irritate your gum tissue. The irritated tissue becomes inflamed. As it swells, the tissue begins to pull away from the teeth and implants, leading to the formation of periodontal pockets. Bacteria fall into these pockets and continue to irritate the tissue. Pockets grow deeper, and infected tissue begins to die off, leading to a receding gumline.
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Aggressive brushing. Your gums are sensitive tissue. Brushing too hard can wear away this tissue, causing your gumline to recede.
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Bruxism. This is a condition in which you grind and clench your teeth. In addition to causing tooth damage and loose teeth or implant failure, bruxism can also cause your gums to recede.
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Tobacco products. Smoking cigarettes and using other types of tobacco products slows blood flow and limits oxygen in the blood. This limits the delivery of essential nutrients to your gums. |
What is Gum Grafting?
Gum grafting is a surgical procedure that is performed to restore a healthy, natural gumline. The procedure involves taking tissue from another area of your mouth, typically the roof of the mouth, or from a compatible donor and suturing it in place over the affected implant. As you heal from surgery, the donor tissue fuses with your existing gum tissue. The tissue forms a tight seal around your
implant, restoring your oral health and the beauty of your smile.
Types of Gum Grafts
There are a few different types of gum grafts that may be used for a gum graft. These grafts include:
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Free subepithelial connective tissue. A subepithelial tissue graft is one that uses tissue taken from under a small incision created in the roof of the mouth. This type of graft is often used to add bulk tissue thickness around implants.
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Free epithelial connective tissue grafts. A free epithelial graft uses tissue from the roof of your mouth as well. The tissue is taken directly from the palate, however, leaving a larger open wound. This type of graft is ideal when keratinized tissue is needed to cover exposed implants.
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Pedicle. A pedicle graft uses surrounding gum tissue. Small incisions are made, and the tissue is rearranged to cover the affected areas. The biggest benefit of this type of graft is that blood vessels remain intact, which aids in faster healing. |
The Benefits of a Gum Graft
There are many benefits to a gum graft, including:
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Improving the health of your mouth.
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Maintaining implant integrity.
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Restoring a natural, beautiful smile, and giving you back your confidence. |
Gum grafting restores both the quality of your smile and the health of your mouth. For more information, and to schedule your consultation,
call Optimum Oral Surgery Group at (856)778-8686 today.
