Our Blog
28
Oct
Benefits of Gum Grafts
If you have had gum disease, you have likely developed receding gums. Although treating gum disease can stop receding gums, it can’t reverse the damage that’s been done. Your gums won’t grow back.
However, gum graft surgery can repair your damaged gums. It takes gum tissue from a donor site (typically the roof of your mouth, though sometimes adjacent gum material might be used in a gum lift), then uses this to restore your gums. This procedure is quick and effective. If you have had gum disease, there are many benefits that make gum graft surgery the best choice after your gum disease has been treated.
It Actually Works
One of the most important benefits of gum graft surgery is that it actually works. It can restore your gums to their youthful, healthy positions.
If you search the Internet looking for solutions for receding gums, you will come across several that claim to help, such as oil pulling, natural supplements, and diet choices. These solutions can help address gum disease. They can reduce the risk of developing gum disease. They might even help stop gum disease in its tracks. This allows your remaining gums to heal.It also stops you from experiencing further gum recession.
However, these approaches can’t restore gums once they’ve receded. Currently, gum graft surgery is the only effective way to reverse the damage done by receding gums. If you want to restore your gums, you need to choose gum graft surgery.
Reduce Sensitivity
Because of receding gums, people often experience tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks. This is because your tooth root has been exposed.
The tooth is made up of two main parts: the visible part, or crown, and what is supposed to be the invisible part, the root. The crown is well insulated against temperature changes and pressure. However, the root is made of a different material–you probably noticed it looks different–that does not insulate as well against temperature changes. When hot or cold foods and drinks contact the tooth root, you can experience sensitivity.
A gum graft can cover up exposed roots, potentially returning your sensitivity to what it was like before you developed gum disease.
Note: Tooth roots might be exposed even if you can’t see them. The separation between the gums and your teeth can let substances slip down against the tooth root. You might not be able to see the separation because you have limited ability to see inside your mouth.
Protect Teeth
In addition to being less insulated against temperature changes, your tooth root is less protected against tooth decay. When your tooth root is exposed, it is more likely to develop cavities than your tooth crown. Not only that, but cavities in the tooth root are more likely to lead to the loss of the tooth.
A gum graft can help seal the gums and protect the roots from decay as well as sensitivity.
Another risk for your teeth after gum disease is that you might have lost bone material as well as gum tissue. With less bone to anchor teeth, they can be more vulnerable to being knocked out. Fortunately, we can often restore damaged bone as well as replace gum tissue when we do a gum graft. This is known as a bone graft and can utilize bone material from your body, or grafts from other sources.
Reduce Risk of Gum Disease Recurrence
The spaces around your teeth that cause sensitivity and increase tooth decay risk can also increase your risk of gum disease. That’s because bacteria can enter into the spaces alongside your teeth and recolonize there. This can lead to another bout of gum disease that can cause even more recession, bone loss, and even tooth loss.
Gum graft surgery closes up the spaces around your teeth, making it harder for gum disease bacteria to colonize there. With good preventive care like brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits, you might never see a recurrence of your gum disease.
Restore Your Smile
Probably the most popular reason why people want gum graft surgery is to restore the appearance of their smiles. When your gums recede, it can make your smile unattractive in several ways:
- Makes your smile look uneven
- Exposes unattractive tooth roots
- Makes teeth look long and unhealthy
- This leads to black gaps in your smile
Nice, even gum lines help make your smile look straight. When your gums recede, it can make your smile look crooked, even if your teeth are straight.
Receding gums also expose your tooth roots, which aren’t attractive like the tooth crowns. The tooth roots are darker and have a rough texture, not what people associate with attractive teeth. Exposed tooth roots make your teeth look long and unhealthy. They have the wrong proportions and with the gaps between teeth, seen as black spaces or black triangles, it can make your smile look unhealthy and unattractive.
Gum graft surgery can fix all these problems, restoring the attractive and healthy appearance of your smile.
Learn More about Gum Grafts in Beverly Hills
If you are in the Beverly Hills area and are looking to restore your gums after gum disease, Nicolas A. Ravon, DDS, MSD can help. A highly experienced periodontist with extensive training, Dr. Ravon has helped many people enjoy their beautiful smiles again after recovering from gum disease.
To learn how Dr. Ravon can help you, please call (310) 275-5325 or use our online contact form to request an appointment at our office in Beverly Hills.