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Soft Tissue Grafts
A soft tissue graft is a procedure that involves taking tissue from the palate or gumline and connecting it to gums that are receding. The number 1 cause of gum recession is periodontal disease. Other causes include physical trauma, crooked teeth, or gums that are thin by nature and recede with age. It is very important to this condition seriously. It is not just an aesthetic problem, although many people are annoyed by the way their gums appear when they recede. The biggest danger is exposure of tooth roots. Teeth cannot remain healthy when roots are exposed. Pain will almost always result as teeth become sensitive to extremes of heat or cold. If neglected, this can lead to tooth loss and bone loss.
There are three types of soft tissue grafts which we will look at in a minute. The root cause of the gum recession will often determine the type of graft performed. While the patient may not be ultimately responsible for the gum recession you suffer from, there may be certain behaviors the patient practices that have contributed to the problem. For example, one might think of gum trauma as the result of a blow to the mouth, when in reality it can be something as mundane as brushing teeth too hard, or using the type of hard bristled toothbrushes that dentist constantly warn against. Departure from such behaviors can be the best preventative treatment of gum recession both before and after periodontal treatment has been performed.
If the damage has already been done, though, the good news is it can be reverse with soft tissue grafts. This procedure will stop gum recession in its tracks, cover exposed tooth roots, and improve the appearance of the smile. Once tissue has been restored to a healthy condition, the sensitivity to heat and cold will go away as well.
There are three methods of performing soft tissue grafts, briefly listed and described as follows:
1. Free gingival graft- a small strip of tissue is removed from the palate and stitched to the receding gum line. This method is most often performed with people with naturally thin gums who can benefit aesthetically from the addition of new tissue.
2. Connective-tissue graft- The dentists removes tissue from under the surface of the palate. This is a very unique type of tissue called subepithelial connective tissue. It is very similar to the tissue that surrounds tooth roots and is used to cover tooth roots that have been exposed.
3. Pedicle graft-this method can only be used when a tooth with an exposed root is located adjacent to a tooth with healthy, abundant gum tissue. A flap of gum tissue from the healthy area is partially cut away, flipped over, and stitched to the damaged area. This procedure offers the benefits of connecting existing blood vessels as well as tissue to the area being treated.
There will be some discomfort after such any of these procedures are performed. There will be one wound in the palate, and one wound in the gum near the tooth. Most dentists will use a soft, clay-like periodontal dressing to protect the grafted tissue while it heals. Prescription pain medication will be used in most cases as well. The patient should obviously keep his or her mouth clean and follow all post-operative instructions given by the dentist.
Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont and Midland Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth O’Sullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic denistry services.
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