Receding Gums & Gum Grafts

[dentalwise]

I asked my dentist about gum grafts the other day. I was told that the purpose of gum grafts is purely cosmetic and the procedure does nothing to restore/improve the health and function of the teeth and gums concerned. He said that once the gum is lost due to recession, it can't be replaced. However, a quick search on the Internet turns up numerous articles stating that gum grafts do restore/improve the health and function of the teeth and gums. So, what is the truth?

 

[comfortdentist]

If you bone is under your gum and your gum goes lower where does your bone go?

 

[letsconnect]

Is this a trick question ??? I love riddles... come on, tell us !

 

[carole]

Well I am stumped, is this me being thick ?

 

[Sparkles]

The bone gets loose and falls out??

 

[letsconnect]

Reading back over it, it might have been an adult joke ...

You've got us all stumped, comfortdentist

 

[comfortdentist]

Sorry for the confusion but think about it if the gum recedes then obviously the bone will also recede at that area. In general you need a band of connective tissue to maintain health. If not you loose bone on that side expose root surface that can lead to caries and sensitivity. Treatment is not bonding it is a surgical graft.

He is a patient that had very little to no attached tissue with root exposure on several teeth so I did a connect tissue graft. The image is flip because in one of them I used a mirror.

 

[dentalwise]

So, assuming that the grafting procedure is a 100% success, how well does the grafted gum tissue match the original gum tissue in form and function? Are they exactly the same, or does the grafted gum tissue only serve to prevent further damage?

 

[comfortdentist]

As you can see from the picture that I posted it is the same with a connective tissue graft. It will look different if a free gingival graft is done. Both will function well but generally you can get better root coverage with a connective tissue graft.

 

[dentalwise]

This is the first time I've heard of a connective tissue graft. Can you explain what the differences are between it and the traditional gum graft? For example, where is the connective tissue sourced?

 

[comfortdentist]

A connective tissue graft is a specific type of gum graft. The source is the tissue just under the surface tissue on the roof of your mouth. An opening is made tissue is removed then it is sutured back closed.

 

[dentalwise]

Oh I see, thanks.

What happens if the receded gum is left untreated? Will it get worse even if you do all the right things to prevent gum recession (e.g. not brush too hard, get regular dental cleaning, and etc.)?

 

[comfortdentist]

every case is different but if you don't have attached tissue then it is likely to continue. In fact if you don't have attached tissue and you have 3+mm of recession even your dental insurance will help pay for it and since it generally doesn't want to pay for anything that says a lot.

 

[dentalwise]

When you say "don't have attached tissue", do you mean that so much gum has been lost that bone is exposed?

 

[comfortdentist]

No mucosa is still there which is thin and mobile not thick and "attached"