If you have gum recession or thinning gums, grafting may be an option for you. Recession is a loss of gum height which exposes the root surface of the tooth - this can not only be unaesthetic but also often lead to increased tooth sensitivity, root caries, trauma to the root surface and possible tooth loss as the tooth is exposed to bacteria and mechanical trauma.
Recession can be caused by bacteria (periodontal disease), aggressive brushing, genetics, clenching or grinding. During grafting, your own tissue (typically harvested from the palate) is placed on the exposed root surface of a tooth to gain gum tissue thickness and/or height. This can not only help aesthetically to stop the tooth/teeth looking long but also help with longevity of the tooth, adding a protective layer. This layer can limit future bone and tooth loss by creating a barrier to bacteria and protecting the softer tooth root.
We use custom made stents which are well tolerated to make the healing part of the procedure where the graft is harvested more comfortable. Our surgical assistants will make this for you prior to your grafting procedure - it is fast, comfortable and truly beneficial for your healing. A single tooth or multiple teeth can be treated at the same time for grafting procedures- Dr Herron can discuss options with you in consideration of your particular needs.
There are different types of gum grafts such as connective tissue grafts (the most common type and often used for treating multiple teeth), free gingival grafts (often used for patients with naturally thin tissue) and pedicle grafts. To accelerate healing and achieve more predictable results, Dr Herron routinely uses Emdogain (an active biological gel) for grafting procedures.