Gum Grafting Specialist | Top Reviewed Periodontist

Do you feel a sharp pain in your teeth when you drink hot or cold beverages? Does your smile appear “toothy”? These are telltale signs of gum recession. This occurs as gum tissues pull back from teeth, exposing more of the teeth’s surfaces and, eventually, the roots.

Unfortunately, receded gums don’t grow back. But the good news is, that this can be treated with gum grafting surgery. At Periodontal Associates, our team of highly trained and experienced periodontists can perform gum grafting and restore the appearance and health of your gums.

Do you need gum grafting? Among dozens of periodontists in Mississauga, see why we’re your #1 choice for treating gum recession.

What is gum grafting?

Since receded gums cannot grow back or naturally regenerate, periodontists perform gum grafting to protect remaining healthy tissue, cover the roots and prevent decay, and reduce the risk of tooth loss.

Essentially, gum grafting involves taking tissue from another part of the mouth—such as the roof or adjacent gums—and grafting it into the affected area. By grafting tissue where the gums have receded, you can prevent the most serious effects of gum recession on your oral health.

Why do you need gum grafting?

Simply, there is no going back from gum recession. It is a gradual process that involves tissue surrounding your teeth to pull away, exposing the roots and leading to decay. This happens since pockets form between the teeth and gum line, causing plaque build-up. Over time, gum recession can damage the supporting bone and cause loss of teeth.

And since receded gums can’t grow back, the best solution is to restore the area with healthy tissue. With early detection, gum grafting can eliminate pockets and plaque build-up, cover exposed roots, and prevent further damage to the gums, teeth, and bone structures, as well as a lifetime of dental problems.

How is gum grafting performed? Our gum grafting treatments

Gum recession presents in varying degrees: mild, moderate, and severe. Depending on the degree of recession and your specific dental needs, your periodontist will recommend a type of gum graft to treat it.

Consultation and Assessment

At Periodontal Associates, our certified and highly trained periodontists specialize in performing gum grafting. During your consultation, we will assess the severity of the recession and provide information on how gum grafting is performed. We will also review anesthetic and sedative options to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure.

Once you are comfortable, we will schedule your procedure and start the gum recession treatment tailored to your needs.

Types of Gum Grafts of Gum Recession

• Connective Tissue Grafts: The most common type of gum graft for treating exposed roots. This graft requires removing a flap of skin at the roof of your mouth to access the tissue underneath, called the subepithelial connective tissue. This connective tissue is removed and grafted onto the affected area. Finally, the flap is stitched back down.
• Free Gingival Grafts: This gum graft is similar to the connective tissue graft. However, rather than creating a flap to harvest tissue underneath, a free gingival graft uses the tissue removed directly from the roof of the mouth. Then, this tissue is attached in the area where gum recession has occurred. Free gingival grafts are recommended for people who have thin gums and require additional tissue to restore them.
• Pedicle Grafts: Rather than harvesting tissue from the roof of the mouth, a pedicle graft uses healthy gum tissue close to the affected area. Your periodontist will create a flap, called a pedicle, only partially cutting it so that one end is still attached. Then, they will pull the gum tissue over to the exposed root and sew it in place. Note that pedicle grafts are only recommended for people with a lot of healthy gum tissue near the affected tooth.

Other Sources of Gum Grafts

While it’s most common to treat gum recession with gum grafts harvested from other parts of the mouth, your periodontist may recommend other sources. An alternative is to use a graft from a tissue bank.

Your periodontist will provide more information on sources of bone grafts. They will recommend the best option based on your specific needs, particularly whether tissue sources in the other parts of your mouth are healthy and sufficient.

Recovery After Gum Recession Treatment

Gum grafting is an outpatient periodontal procedure. It takes about one to two weeks to heal. To ensure a smooth and successful recovery, your periodontist will provide post-op instructions concerning sedation, your diet, physical activity, and symptoms to watch out for. Here are some recovery tips to follow.

Immediately After the Gum Graft Surgery

• Don’t Drive: if you are sedated, you will be able to go home and rest once the sedative wears off. However, keep in mind that you should not drive yourself, so make arrangements for someone else to take you home. If you are not sedated and only receive local anesthetic, then you are able to drive yourself home.
• Oral Hygiene: Avoid brushing and flossing the gum recession treatment area until it has healed. Rinse your mouth with a special mouthwash prescribed by your periodontist to prevent plaque build-up during recovery.
• Take Antibiotics: Depending on the severity of gum recession, your periodontist may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection.

Over the Next Few Days and Weeks

• Eat a Soft Diet: While your gum graft heals, limit your diet to soft foods to avoid disturbing the site. You can eat eggs, Jell-O, pasta, yogurt, cottage cheese, soft vegetables, ice cream, and other similar foods.
• Pain and Discomfort: It’s normal to experience discomfort after gum grafting. However, if your graft was not taken from the palate (the roof of the mouth), you should experience little to no discomfort. Your periodontist may recommend over-the-counter pain medication to take as needed.

When to Call Your Periodontist: Symptoms to Watch out For

Gum grafting is a simple, routine procedure. It’s an effective treatment for gum recession that takes only one to two weeks to heal. However, you need to watch out for unusual symptoms and complications.

Call your periodontist if you experience bleeding that continues even after applying pressure for 20 minutes. You should also tell your periodontist if you experience more pain, swelling, and bruising than normal.

Why do you need a periodontist to perform gum grafting?

Most people visit the dentist when they experience issues with their teeth. But when the problem is in the gums and structures that support the teeth, you need advanced care that only a periodontist can provide. This includes procedures like gum grafting to treat gum recession.

At Periodontal Associates, our clinic is led by certified and highly experienced periodontists. Following dental school, they complete a three-year post-graduate program in periodontics, where they train in diagnosing and treating gum recession, gum disease, and other problems that affect the gums, tissues, and bones in the mouth.

How much does gum grafting cost?

Gum grafting is a type of oral surgery for treating gum recession. A crucial procedure like this is often included in many dental insurance plans, with the exact coverage amount depending on your policy and the extent of the gum recession. Talk to your periodontist to find out the cost of your gum graft and payment options.

Here are some factors that determine the cost of gum grafting in Mississauga:

• Gum Recession Diagnosis and Grafting Procedure: Your periodontist will determine if your gum recession is mild, moderate, or severe and the size of the affected area to recommend the best type of graft.
• Insurance Coverage: Depending on your dental insurance coverage, a portion or the full cost of the gum grafting may be covered.
• Your Periodontist: The most crucial factor—the qualifications and experience of your periodontist in Mississauga will determine the success of your gum graft and provide long-term periodontal care.

What to look for when choosing a periodontist for gum grafting in Mississauga? The Periodontal Associates Difference

At Periodontal Associates, our team of periodontists in Mississauga specializes in treating gum recession. As board-certified periodontists, we’re highly trained and experienced in performing gum grafting surgery to treat recession and restore healthy gums. We’re with you every step, from diagnosing and treating gum recession to long-term periodontal care. Find out how:

• Gum recession expertise: Our periodontists are highly skilled and experienced in diagnosing gum recession and performing gum grafting surgery using the latest tools and in line with the highest periodontal standards.
• Personalized gum recession treatment: We know that every case of gum recession is unique. During your consultation, your periodontist will assess your case and use the appropriate type of graft based on your needs.
• Affordable gum grafting: At Periodontal Associates, we know that gum recession affects a lot of people. We aim to make gum grafting affordable and accessible through insurance coverage and payment plans.
• Conveniently located, state-of-the-art clinic: Our fully equipped, warm, and inviting clinic is conveniently located in Mississauga, close to Highway 403, for easy access from anywhere in the GTA.

Are you dealing with gum recession? Don’t prolong your symptoms, such as tooth sensitivity and a “toothy” smile. Learn how Periodontal Associates treats gum recession.