Gum Grafting in The Woodlands, TX

A receding gumline is often caused by periodontal (gum) disease where the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, exposing the surfaces of the roots. While this is a common condition, receding gums can drastically change the look of your smile and increase your risk of getting tooth decay. To combat a receding gumline and protect the tooth roots from damage, Made Ya Smile Dental offers an advanced gum grafting procedure at our clinic in The Woodlands, TX. Gum grafting is a technique that repairs the gums and revitalizes the smile by taking gum tissue from your mouth, or another healthy source, and attaching it to the areas in need. Our practitioners have years of experience helping patients who struggle with a receding gumline and will create a custom treatment plan based on your needs. To learn more about gum grafting, schedule a consultation at our multi-specialty clinic in Texas today. 

There are many reasons why patients would suffer from a receding gumline, especially if you experience gum (periodontal) disease, teeth clenching or grinding, bite misalignment, oral piercings, or if you brush your teeth too aggressively. Sometimes genetics may also play a role in gum recession, which is why the team at Made Ya Smile Dental will ask you about your medical and dental history during your consultation. Those who have mild or advanced gum recession may notice some sensitivity to brushing and flossing, as well as cold or hot temperatures, discoloration around the gumline, or a change in the look of their smile. Those who believe they may benefit from a gum grafting procedure should contact our office in The Woodlands, TX to restore the health and appearance of their teeth. 

A gum grafting procedure essentially restores the gumline with tissue taken from your mouth or another source and attaches it to the areas of gum recession. This will cover the tooth roots, protecting them from exposure, and returns your gumline back to health. To make sure you feel comfortable during your treatment, Made Ya Smile Dental will numb your gum tissues and offer different options for sedation if you feel any anxiety or fear about visiting the dentist. 

When you schedule a consultation with our experienced team, we will help you understand which method is best for completing your gum grafting procedure. Pedicle grafts are used when you have plenty of extra gum tissue on a tooth near the receded area. If we use this method, we take the tissue and stretch it to cover the area. Connective tissue grafts take tissue from your hard palate under the top layer of tissue while gingival gum grafts take tissue from the surface of the hard palate. If we are not able to use healthy tissue from your mouth, our practitioners can use gum graft materials from a biocompatible synthetic source or a soft tissue bank. 

Made Ya Smile Dental takes the natural or synthetic gum tissue to cover the receded areas of your teeth, then sutures them in place. While your mouth heals, the new tissue should blend into the surrounding area so you can have a natural-looking gumline. Depending on the extent of the receding gums, you may need one or more appointments to complete the overall treatment. Our doctors will then give you special instructions for taking care of your teeth moving forward. 

Once the gum grafting procedure has been completed, Made Ya Smile Dental asks that you avoid eating until the numb feeling has completely disappeared to avoid injury to the soft tissues. Patients should also spend a few days resting and minimizing physical activity. If you experience discomfort, nonprescription pain relievers and cold compresses should help make you feel more comfortable, as well as a soft food diet so your new gum tissue has time to integrate completely into the gumline. 

During recovery, Made Ya Smile Dental encourages you to follow our team's recommendations about brushing and flossing techniques to make sure the area heals properly and generates the best results. We may suggest medicated mouth rinses to keep plaque and bacteria away from the gums as you recover. Our staff will also schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress in the following weeks after surgery. 

Made Ya Smile Dental accepts most PPO insurance plans to help pay for your gum grafting procedure. Before beginning your treatment, our helpful and experienced staff will call your provider to see what is covered and what must be paid out-of-pocket. If you or your family don't use dental insurance, we're happy to review several different payment options so you can get the treatment you need. We also provide information about paying through low-interest financing with CareCredit®. 

Does gum grafting hurt?
Gum graft surgery should cause little to no pain. We will use a local anesthetic to numb your treatment area; this will help ensure you remain comfortable during your procedure. It's common to feel some pressure or movement during the treatment, but this should not cause discomfort.

How long does gum grafting take?
When we treat receding gums with gum grafting, it can take anywhere between 1 – 1.5 hours. We will go into detail about what to expect during treatment planning.

What foods should I avoid after a gum graft procedure?
After you get a gum graft, we recommend avoiding:

• Crunchy foods (such as popcorn, potato chips, and nuts)
• Spicy foods
• Citrus (such as oranges, tomatoes, and lemonade)
• Sticky substances ( such as candy, gum, and bagels)
• Tough foods (such as raw vegetables or steak)

If your teeth and smile have been affected by gum recession, or if you are suffering from tooth sensitivity and an uneven gumline, a gum grafting procedure may be able to help. Made Ya Smile Dental will be able to protect the roots of exposed teeth and create a healthier smile. To learn if you can ultimately benefit from gum grafting treatment in The Woodlands, TX, call our friendly office to schedule a consultation with our skilled team.