You may need to get a gum graft if you have gum disease. That situation could raise a key question for you: is gum grafting painful? Depending on the answer, you could hesitate to go through with treatment. Luckily, gum grafts are pain-free and have short recovery periods. Your local dentist in Lovell even has the evidence to prove this claim! So, here’s a primer on gum grafts, why they don’t hurt, and how to heal quickly from them.
So, What’s Gum Grafting Anyway?
As part of a larger gum disease treatment, many dentists will perform a gum graft. This service manages one of the worst symptoms of infected gum tissue.
A gum graft is an oral surgery that removes gum tissue from one part of your mouth and places it in another. Its main role is covering tooth roots exposed by receding gums, which occur when the tissues slowly shrink. Some dentists will also perform one to support a placed dental implant.
Does Gum Grafting Hurt?
Whatever the rumors you’ve heard, gum grafting doesn’t hurt. The treatment is smooth, painless, and easy for the patients who receive it.
You see, the dentist will numb your gums with anesthesia before grafting. This step ensures you won’t feel any pain from the later surgery – its incisions, its movements, etc. Instead, the most you’ll sense is some pressure as the dental team works on your mouth.
Furthermore, the dentist will place a dressing over the grafting site after surgery. Doing so protects the grafted gums while they heal and recover.
How to Recover from Gum Grafting
While gum grafting itself doesn’t hurt, you may feel a bit sore after treatment. That means you should follow good after-surgery instructions to manage any pain. These guidelines include:
- Keep your tongue away from the surgical area.
- Don’t remove the dressing.
- Avoid physical activities for the first 24 hours after surgery.
- Swish with a mouth rinse after the first 24 hours post-surgery.
- Don’t brush or rinse your mouth on the day of the surgery.
- Avoid pulling your lips to view the wound.
- When brushing your teeth, don’t brush near the grafting area for one month.
By following the above tips, your recovery process should be short. You’ll only feel slight soreness in your gums for a day or so after surgery. Once a few days have passed, you’ll be fine and dandy!
About the Author
Dr. Lance Anderson is an experienced and qualified dentist based in Lovell, WY. Having earned his DDS from the University of Louisville, he’s highly skilled at preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental work. That means you can trust him for almost any oral service, including periodontal therapy and pain-free gum grafts! Today, Dr. Anderson practices at Lovell Dental and is reachable on his website and by phone at (307)-548-7654.