Gum Grafting: Tips for receding gums?

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone here has gone through a gum graft—maybe using tissue from the palate or even donor tissue—to fix areas where the gums have receded?
What has your experience been like?

Thanks! >

gentletinker17 said:Hi,

I was wondering if anyone here has undergone a gum graft—either using tissue from the palate or donor tissue—to fix areas with recession?
What has your experience been like?

Thanks

Hey. What specifically are you looking for, or what is the underlying issue? The solution varies quite a bit depending on your current situation—tooth positioning, gum type, bite, bone density, existing dental work, etc.—but generally speaking, it can be done very effectively.

Gerald Smith76 said:Hey there! What specifically are you looking into? I need to know what the main issue is, because the solution changes quite a bit depending on things like your current situation, where the teeth are positioned, the gum type, your bite, bone density, existing dental work, and so on... but generally speaking, it can be done quite beautifully.

Sorry, I missed your reply!
I’ve been dealing with receding gums since my early twenties—I think my bite is the biggest culprit. It's happening in several spots, but the ones where you can actually see the recession are the real bother. I've seen a few dentists, and it sounds like I might need surgery. Honestly, though, I’ve heard some horror stories, so I’m feeling pretty hesitant about jumping into it.

Do you have any personal experience with that procedure? And where would you recommend going? I don't see this being done very often around here; at least, I haven't seen anyone on the forums talking about their experience with it.

It really just comes down to the dentist you pick and how much work they actually do. The only real downside is when things don't go as planned—recession can still happen even after a graft during the healing phase. I went through it myself; first, they tried pulling my existing gum tissue down, which was a bust, so then we had to move on to a graft. Usually, there’s one appointment to take an impression for a protective guard—you'll need it to protect the stitches on your palate—and then a second appointment for the actual surgery.
Talking about pain is pointless, honestly. Everyone’s pain tolerance is different. You don't necessarily need antibiotics, just some chlorhexidine mouthwash. You can eat the next day, though I personally didn't touch a thing for 36 hours after mine, followed by a week of nothing but soft foods to "aid healing." Personally, I don't think it made any difference—I probably would have been better off just grilling a steak the very next day.
Living on a diet of mush is frustrating if that's the route you take.