Gum Grafting in Provo, American Fork, and Price, Utah
Receding gums can expose the roots of your teeth, leading to sensitivity and leaving those areas more vulnerable to damage. A gum graft, also called a gingival graft, restores or strengthens gum tissue where it has become thin or receded.
Utah Oral Surgeons provides gum grafting at our offices in Provo, American Fork, and Price, UT. Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons evaluate the affected area and recommend a treatment approach based on the amount of recession, the surrounding tissue, and your overall oral health.
What Is Gum Graft Surgery?
Gum graft surgery adds healthy soft tissue to an area where the gums have receded or where additional tissue is needed for support. The graft helps create a stronger gumline and can cover or protect exposed tooth roots.
Depending on your treatment plan, grafting tissue may come from another area of your mouth or another appropriate grafting material. The tissue is positioned over or around the treatment area and secured while it heals and integrates with the surrounding gums.
Gum grafting can be used to protect vulnerable tooth roots, strengthen thin gum tissue, reduce sensitivity associated with exposed roots, and improve the contour of the gumline.
When Is Gum Grafting Recommended?
Not every case of gum recession requires surgery. A gum graft may be recommended when recession or inadequate gum tissue is putting a tooth or surrounding area at risk.
Gum grafting may be considered when:
- Tooth roots have become exposed
- Gum recession continues to progress
- Gum tissue is naturally thin or insufficient
- Exposed roots are causing sensitivity
- Additional tissue is needed to protect or stabilize an area
- Recession has created an uneven gumline
Gum recession can develop for several reasons, including naturally thin tissue, brushing habits, tooth position, orthodontic movement, trauma, or periodontal disease. Identifying why the tissue has receded helps determine whether gum grafting is appropriate and whether other care is needed as part of the treatment plan.
Common Types of Gum Grafts
There are several approaches to gum grafting. The technique used depends on the extent and location of recession, the thickness of the surrounding tissue, and the treatment goal.
Connective Tissue Graft
A connective tissue graft uses tissue from beneath the surface of the roof of the mouth. This approach can be used to add tissue around an exposed tooth root and improve coverage of a receded area.
Free Gingival Graft
A free gingival graft uses a thin layer of tissue from the palate to increase the amount or thickness of gum tissue in an area where it is naturally thin or vulnerable to further recession.
Pedicle Graft
In certain situations, healthy gum tissue next to the affected area can be repositioned to cover the recession rather than taking tissue from another part of the mouth.
Other grafting materials or techniques may also be appropriate depending on your needs. Your surgeon will explain the recommended approach and the source of the grafting tissue before treatment.
What to Expect During Gum Graft Surgery
Consultation and Treatment Planning
Your surgeon begins by examining the area of recession and evaluating the amount and quality of gum tissue surrounding the tooth or treatment site.
The goal is not simply to cover an exposed area, but to determine why additional tissue is needed and which grafting approach offers the best support for that specific site.
If your dentist or another specialist referred you, our team can coordinate with their office as part of your overall treatment plan.
Gum Grafting Procedure
The treatment area is numbed before surgery. Your surgeon prepares the area receiving the graft, positions the tissue where additional coverage or thickness is needed, and secures it while healing begins.
The details of the procedure vary depending on the grafting technique, the amount of tissue required, and whether one or several areas are being treated.
Anesthesia and Comfort
Comfort is planned according to the procedure, your medical history, and your individual needs. Sedation options may be available when appropriate, and your surgeon will explain which options apply to your treatment before surgery.
Follow-Up
Follow-up visits allow your surgeon to evaluate how the graft is healing and determine when you can resume normal brushing, flossing, and other care around the surgical area.
Benefits of Gum Grafting
Depending on the reason for treatment, a gum graft can help:
- Cover and protect exposed tooth roots
- Strengthen areas with thin or inadequate gum tissue
- Reduce sensitivity associated with exposed roots
- Help limit additional gum recession
- Protect vulnerable root surfaces
- Improve the contour and appearance of the gumline
The amount of root coverage or tissue improvement possible varies from patient to patient. Your surgeon will explain what the graft is intended to accomplish in your specific case.
Gum Graft Recovery
Early recovery after gum graft surgery typically involves some tenderness and swelling around the treated area. If tissue is taken from another part of your mouth, the donor site will need time to heal as well.
During the initial healing period, you may need to eat softer foods and avoid brushing or flossing directly over the graft. You will receive instructions for keeping the area clean without disturbing the healing tissue.
Initial healing occurs before the graft has fully matured, so it is important to follow your surgeon’s instructions and attend recommended follow-up visits even after the area begins to feel normal.
Why Choose Utah Oral Surgeons for Gum Grafting?
Experienced Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Dr. William L. McBee, Dr. Gary L. Crawford, and Dr. Nathaniel T. Edmunds bring decades of combined experience diagnosing and treating conditions involving the mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, and surrounding tissues.
Surgical Care Focused on the Whole Treatment Site
Healthy soft tissue is part of the foundation surrounding the teeth and other oral structures. We evaluate both the tissue that needs to be restored and the surrounding anatomy when planning treatment.
Coordinated Care With Your Dentist
Many gum grafting patients are referred by their dentist or another dental specialist. We coordinate with your referring provider when needed so the surgical treatment fits into your broader oral health plan.
Transparent Treatment and Cost Information
We explain the recommended surgical approach, recovery expectations, and estimated costs before treatment so you know what to expect.
Gum Grafting in Utah and Carbon County
Utah Oral Surgeons provides gum graft consultations and treatment at three offices serving patients throughout Utah County and Carbon County. Choose our Provo, American Fork, or Price location for the office most convenient for your care.
Provo Office
Mon-Thurs | 8:30 – 5:00
Friday 8:30 – 3:30
Closed Sat & Sunday
American Fork Office
Mon-Thurs | 9:00 – 5:00
Friday 6:00 – 3:30
Closed Sat & Sunday
Price Office
Mon-Fri | 8:00 – 5:00
Closed Sat & Sunday
We care for patients from communities throughout the area, including Provo, Orem, Springville, Spanish Fork, Payson, American Fork, Lehi, Pleasant Grove, Highland, Alpine, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Price, Helper, and Wellington.
Schedule a Gum Grafting Consultation
If your gums have receded, your tooth roots are exposed, or your dentist has recommended a gum graft, our surgeons can evaluate the area and determine whether surgical grafting is appropriate for you.
Call Provo: (801) 375-4707 – Call American Fork: (801) 756-0766 – Call Price: (435) 637-9590
Frequently Asked Questions
When is gum grafting necessary?
Gum grafting may be recommended when recession has exposed tooth roots, gum tissue is too thin to adequately protect a tooth, or recession continues to progress. Whether a graft is necessary depends on the cause and extent of the recession and the health of the surrounding tissue.
Is gum graft surgery painful?
The treatment area is numbed during surgery, and sedation options may be available when appropriate. Tenderness and swelling are expected during early healing, and your surgeon will provide instructions for managing discomfort and protecting the graft.
Can receding gums grow back without a gum graft?
Lost gum tissue does not typically grow back on its own. Some mild recession can be monitored or managed without surgery, while grafting may be recommended when additional tissue is needed to protect the tooth or strengthen the area.
Where does the tissue for a gum graft come from?
Depending on the procedure, graft tissue may come from the roof of your mouth, nearby gum tissue, or another appropriate grafting material. Your surgeon will recommend an approach based on the area being treated and the amount of tissue needed.
Can gums recede again after a gum graft?
A gum graft strengthens and restores tissue in the treated area, but future recession can still occur. Addressing factors that contributed to the original recession and maintaining good oral care can help protect the area after treatment.