Gum Grafting Melbourne
Misaligned gums can be caused by genetic factors, tissue thinness and positioning of the teeth. All these factors play a role in causing what is known as gum recession. Recession occurs when the supporting gum around a tooth recedes, exposing it to bacteria, cold temperatures and acidic environments. When the roots are exposed, it is often hard to manage and can cause sensitivity. At Glenferrie Dental, our gum grafting Melbourne treatments are designed to address areas of gum recession, provide support for the affected teeth, and relieve discomfort caused by exposed roots.
What Is Gum Grafting?
Gum grafting is a type of gum surgery used in cases of receding gum tissue and exposed tooth roots. When gum recession occurs, it can expose the roots of your teeth, leading to sensitivity, decay, and further gum disease. A gum graft involves taking graft tissue, often from the roof of the mouth or nearby healthy gum tissue, and attaching it to the affected area. This helps to cover areas of recession and support the gum line.
Traditionally, recessed gums are managed by covering the exposed root surface of your tooth with a white filling. However over time, the filling stains or chips and needs to be redone. Each time a filling is preformed, there is an increased risk of further gum recession.
An alternative approach to gum recession is to consider covering the areas of gum that have receded. This can be done during a minor surgical gum grafting procedure with your own gum tissue or an artificial alternative. This gum graft surgery in Melbourne may be used to increase the amount of gum tissue around your teeth.
Steps To Completing Your Gum Grafting in Melbourne
Initial Consultation
After an initial consult, we will gather further information to accurately diagnose and address your gum concerns. We may require moulds to be taken to assess the bite as well as other diagnostic records such as x-rays to assess bone availability (the bone supports the gum).
Gum Grafting
This visit is when the surgical procedure will be performed. Your dentist will discuss sedation options available to you. Depending on your condition, we may recommend a connective tissue graft, free gingival graft, or a gum tissue graft, all of which aim to cover areas of gum recession and exposed tooth roots. The procedure is provided according to established clinical protocols.
Review
Our care extends after surgery, where we will track how you are progressing. This will typically last 1 – 2 weeks post-treatment. During this time, we’ll monitor the integration of the gum tissue graft and provide advice to support ongoing gum care.