Soft Tissue Grafting to Restore Your Gum Line

Gum Grafting Procedures

Connective-Tissue Grafts

Connective-tissue grafts are the most popular way to treat receding gums around one or more teeth where the roots are exposed:

1. A little flap is cut on the roof of the mouth.
2. Healthy tissue is removed from under the flap and the flap is sewed back into place.
3. The new tissue is attached to the receding gums to cover the exposed tooth roots.
4. The new tissue binds with the receding gums to permanently lengthen the gum line.

Free Gingival Grafts

If your gum tissue is naturally-thin, Dr. Parkes may suggest a free gingival gum graft. This is similar to a connective tissue gum graft:

1. Instead of cutting a flap on the roof of the mouth, the tissue is removed directly from the surface.
2. The new tissue is attached to the receding gums to cover the exposed tooth roots.
3. The new tissue binds with the receding gums to permanently lengthen the gum line.

Pedicle Grafts

If you still have good tissue near your receding gums, Dr. Parkes might perform a pedicle graft:

1. Instead of using tissue from the roof of your mouth, a flap of tissue, called a pedicle, is made where the receding gums are.
2. The flap is either pulled up over the tooth roots (lower jaw) or pulled down over the tooth roots (upper jaw) to lengthen the gum line.

Healing from Gum Grafting Surgery

If you took a sedative during your surgery, let someone drive you home. A mild inflammatory medication from the drug store is usually enough to ease any soreness. If necessary, Dr. Parkes will give you a prescription. Do not floss or brush the affected areas until your gums are completely healed. Instead, use the mouth wash Dr. Parkes recommends to fight plaque. Eat soft foods, such as eggs, gelatin, pasta, yogurt for about a week, until your gums are healed.