Gum Grafting Recovery
Now that you have determined that gum grafting is the best treatment plan to help you improve your oral health and maintain strong teeth, let’s talk about what it will look like to recover from the procedure.
Immediately following the procedure you will start recovering. This initial stage will last about one to two weeks. As the new tissue starts to heal into the area, swelling and tenderness are the most common symptoms people experience. The discomfort from the procedure should start to dissipate about 72 hours afterwards and is usually managed with over the counter pain medication and anti inflammatory medication. Using ice packs on the affected area can help reduce swelling and pain. Your specific timeline will differ based on your overall health, your body’s ability to heal, and avoiding infection. Following the dentist’s aftercare instructions and suggestions during this time is crucial to keeping your recovery time short and uneventful.
Depending on the source of your gum graft tissue, your recovery timeline will be affected. Some people are able to use their own tissue from the roof of their mouth, so your body will have more than one area to heal after surgery. The different types of grafts will also affect your recovery timeline. Connective tissue grafts, often used for treating root exposure, involve taking tissue from the roof of your mouth and securing it to the recessed gum area. Free gingival grafts, which also use tissue from the palate, are often used for reinforcing thin gums and may have a similar recovery process. Pedicle grafts, on the other hand, reposition tissue from an adjacent gum area, potentially leading to a shorter recovery since there is no secondary donor site.
Another way to help your recovery time stay as short as possible is to change your diet for the first week or two. Soft foods, foods low in sugar, foods with mild or less spice levels, foods low in acid, and foods that are neither too hot nor too cold are the best choices to keep pressure off the surgical sites and to minimize irritation. Smoking and using straws will disrupt your surgical sites so you need to avoid suction.
Maintaining good oral hygiene practices is important during recovery and afterwards to ensure you stay infection free. The dentist will have instructions for you about brushing and flossing in the affected areas for the early part of your recovery. Some people need to use an antimicrobial mouth rinse to reduce the possibility of infection. After the dentist gives you approval to resume regular brushing, a soft bristled toothbrush is the best tool for the job.
In the majority of gum grafting cases, the healing process is fully complete between four to eight weeks. If you had a complex procedure or you had a large affected area, then your healing journey will be longer than someone who had a simple or small gum grafting. The dentist will have follow up appointments to ensure you are healing well and to advise about the best aftercare practices. Some people may need to avoid vigorous exercise to give their body the best chance at accepting the new tissue and growing the affected area stronger.
If you have more questions about gum grafting or how it works as a part of your treatment plan to achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to understand how gum grafting can help you.