Why Might You Need a Gum Tissue Graft?
Dr. K Ashraf might propose a gum tissue graft if you suffer from gum recession and it’s damaging your oral health. Gum recession is when the gums wear away or pull back, exposing the tooth’s root. If you don’t treat this condition, it can severely damage the soft and hard tissue that supports your oral structure, ultimately resulting in tooth loss.
Beyond gum recession, you might request a gum graft to improve the appearance of your smile. Some of our patients dislike the aesthetic of longer teeth. In these situations, our Waterloo dentist can use a gum tissue graft to give you a perfect smile.
What Is a Gum Tissue Graft?
If Dr. K Ashraf decides that a gum tissue graft is necessary, he’ll start by removing a small piece of tissue from the roof of your mouth. From there, he’ll stitch it over the area of exposed root.
Typically, the healing process associated with gum tissue grafts can be restrictive, limiting your diet and activity for multiple weeks. However, with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, we can significantly decrease your recovery time.
Benefits of Gum Tissue Grafts
Gum tissue grafts are rewarding procedures that we can use to improve the oral health of a large number of our patients. The benefits of a gum tissue graft are as follows:
- Stops gum recession (tooth lengthening)
- Improves oral and gum health
- Improves appearance
- Reduces sensitivity caused by gum recession
- Avoids additional tissue/bone loss by protecting the exposed root
Gum Graft Recovery with PRP
Gum grafting stitches a piece of tissue from the roof of your mouth over an area of exposed tooth-root. While the healing process can be rigorous, Dr. K Ashraf can utilize the patient’s own growth factors—which increase the speed and quality of healing—to expedite the process.
During the gum graft, Dr. K Ashraf will take a small sample of your blood. From there, he’ll spin it in a specially calibrated centrifuge, separating the PRP from the other blood components. The PRP is configured into a gel or membrane depending on the area accepting the graft. PRP will help with clotting and introduce growth factors to the surgical site.
With PRP we can kick-start your bodies natural healing response, allowing you to get back to your favorite foods, activities, and proper oral health.