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Dental Implants in Cypress

A gum graft (also known as a gingival graft, or a tissue graft), is a surgical periodontal procedure. The goal is to cover an exposed tooth root surface with grafted oral tissue. Exposed roots are usually caused from gingival recession due to periodontal disease. There are other common causes not resulting from periodontal disease, including overly aggressive brushing, hard toothbrushes, and trauma.

The most common types of gingival grafts are:

• Free gingival graft- this procedure is often used to thicken gum tissue. A layer of tissue is removed from the palate and relocated to the area affected by gum recession.
• Subepithelial connective tissue graft- This procedure is commonly used to cover exposed roots. Tissue is removed fairly painlessly from the palate and placed at the site of gum recession.
• Acellular dermal matrix allograft- This procedure uses donated human tissue as a tissue source for the graft. The advantage of this procedure is that there is less pain because there is no need to take tissue from the patient's palate.

Reasons for gum grafting

• Reducing sensitivity- When the tooth root becomes exposed, eating or drinking hot or cold foods can cause extreme sensitivity to the teeth. Gum grafting surgery permanently covers the exposed root, helps reduce sensitivity, and improves the health of the gums.
  
• Esthetics- Gum recession and inflammation go hand in hand with periodontal disease. Gum recession and root exposure can make the teeth look longer than normal. Grafting can make the teeth look shorter, more symmetrical and generally more pleasing to look at.
• Gum health- periodontal disease can destroy gum tissue rapidly. If left untreated, a large amount of gum tissue can be lost in a short period of time. Gum grafting can help halt tissue and bone loss; preventing further problems and protecting exposed roots from further decay.

Once the need for gum grafting surgery has been determined, there are several treatments the dentist will want to perform before gum grafting takes place. First, the teeth must thoroughly be cleaned supra and subgingivally to remove any calculus (tartar) and bacteria. The dentist can also provide literature, advice and educational tools to increase the effectiveness of home care and help reduce the susceptibility of periodontal disease in the future. The gum grafting procedure is uaully performed under local anesthetic. The exact  procedure will depend on wether tissue is coming from the patient's palate or a tissue bank. Initially, small incisions will be made at the recipient site to create a small pocket to accommodate the graft. Then a split thickness incision is made and the connective tissue graft is inserted into the space between the two sections of tissue. The graft is usually slightly larger than the recession area, so some excess will be apparent. Sutures are often placed to further stabilize the graft and to prevent any shifting from the designated site. Surgical material is used to protect the surgical area during the first week of healing. Uniformity and healing of the gums all be achieved in approximately 6 weeks.

Dr. Alex Pezeshkian 6101 Ball Rd. Suite 310 Cypress, California 90630

Serving to all the following cities:

Orange County, CA Cypress, CA Garden Grove, CA Cerritos, CA Buena Park, CA

Dental Implants - Periodontal Treatment - Tissue Grafts - Bone Grafts - Sinus Augmentation