Gum graft

I had this back in high school. It was okay. Not fun, of course. But not has horrible and traumatizing as I thought it might be. When I was a young child, I was told I'd have to get it done, and I ran out of the office screaming and crying. I thought I had evaded it, but then later when my braces were removed (in my teens) I was told I still had to get it done. So, mine was done to correct a receding gumline to prevent future problems. I had the six front teeth on the bottom of my mouth done, three at a time (so I had the procedure twice). They gave me valium or something beforehand. It made me somewhat physically dizzy, but didn't do anything as far as nerves or pain. Not to me, anyway. So yes, there was the annoying 8 - 12 shots of Novocaine in the gums and roof of mouth. This may sound odd, but I actually found the surgery somewhat intriguing. Seeing the guy so delicately slicing a tiny piece from the roof of my mouth, then delicately placing it on the bottom, and delic... Read more

I had a gum graft procedure almost three days ago. The periodontist who did my surgery is excellent, very experienced, and has actually written books and done research on the procedure, so I think I was fortunate. Dr. S. gave me nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas) prior to using the needles for numbing and continued with it throughout, which definitely decreased the apprehension I was feeling. Nitrous oxide also provides additional anesethetic effect. So, while I was aware of the needles and procedure to some extent, at times, I did not feel pain and was not anxious. (I would never consent to have serious dental work done without sedation of some sort, that is for sure!) Following the surgery, I was able to drive myself home - about 30 mile distance. By the time I got home the numbness was ending and I took a narcotic Rx that took care of any pain. I took two more that day and none since. Twice today, the third day, I took an extra-strength tylenol. I have no pain, am just a little sore a... Read more

I had a gum graft on my lower front teeth 5 days ago and am now just starting to feel normal. I wish I knew how bloody much it hurt before the surgery, I would have told the old periodontist to go stick it where the sun don't shine. I would have just let my teeth rot and had dentures put in. The price would have been the same and I wouldn't have to worry about enduring such a painful (physically and emotionally tramatizing) experience. I don't know what's worse the fifteen freezing needles, the scapel cutting and scraping existing flesh off my teeth, numerous blood soaked gauze pulled out of my mouth, or the 30 stitches required to re-attach the gum tissue. I can't believe that in this day and age of technological advances in health care, periodontics still remains in the dark ages. Something must be done to stop the suffering of innocent people. Let's start the revolution!

I had alloderm gum grafts done in 8 areas. Front and back of my bottom front teeth and upper left side molars. It was done all at once. I was nervous as crap after watching videos on youtube. The worst part of the surgery is the shots at the beginning. AFter that, even though there is a lot of cutting, sewing, etc; you cant actually feel the surgery so its not painful, just a little scary. After the grafts, you can drive home and after the feeling starts to come back you will feel tender and sore, but, the actual pain doesn't start until later that night and last for 3 days. For me, the 2nd to 3rd day was the worst. I am now on the 4th day and the throbbing pain from the gums being cut up is not as bad and bearable. I wouldn't of been able to stand it without the pain medication so be sure to get because the anti-imflammatory alone won't help. You will have to wear bandages over the gum areas until they either come off by themselves or the periodontist removes them. Be sure ... Read more

Hi, I am in high school, and was just told I had to have a gum graft done. He said it was awful, and that it was going to be done in a 2 day process, day one for the first tooth, and then again for the other. When I heard this, I was about to cry, and I did, for a long time. For me, I am really nervous about the healing time. Will I be able to talk, or go to school right away. How about eating? Does it look really bad, when I smile, or just when my mouth is relaxed? When is the best time to get this done, summer? I don't want it to look bad for the first day of school,or picture day, or..? He was very general as to HOW SOON I should get it, so does he mean, in a year, or maybe five, or what?!? I am so nervous. Please tell me your stories about recuperation!!! Thank you soo much! ~IthinkIllflyaway!~

I may have to go in for one of these.  I dip lots of grizz and I have a hole in my top gum.  I fill it with Dentyne gum but it doesn't help.

I had the gum grafting procedure done a couple days ago...had hardly any pain at all; however, for the past two days my mouth has felt really irritated, sort of an itchy feeling. Is that normal?

i will be having gum grafting surgery in a few days, can someone tell me step by step of what they will be doing? how will the pain or swelling be, and if anyone has had this procedure done before please let me know what to expect.

Hello I had my 3rd Gum Graft TODAY, and I have to say that like the other surgeries, I dont feel any pain, I dont need to take pain medication, eventhough my first 2 surgeries were 6 teeth altogheter (1st surgery was upper side and 2nd one was down side) In fact, I need surgery in all my teeth! I am only 33 yo and I am very pleased by the way my teeth looks righ now, I can eat carefully, I am wearing a plastic palate to protect donor area. I recommend this surgery bcause it makes teeth looks healthy and normal. What u need is to find a good periodontist with experience to make you happy. Good Luck!! Lima-Peru

I've had eight gum grafts, some of them being free gingival grafts and others were subepithelial connective tissue grafts. The surgeries all went about the same. They take less than one hour. My periodontist used topical anestetics before administering anestetics by needle. She was very careful and the procedures were close to being pain free. Immediately after the surgery and before feeling any pain, I take the prescribed Tylenol with codeine. I continue to use the pain medication for about two days after each surgery and tolerate the discomfort very well. I would say to those who are facing gum graft surgery: 1. Carefully select a periodontist. Recommendations are very, very helpful. 2. Take your pain medication post surgery. 3. You'll be very pleased about two weeks after the surgery as most negative after effects will have passed. Each time, I missed only one day from work - the day of the surgery. This was mostly for the need to apply ice for the first 24 hours (off... Read more

I just had a lower gun graft on two teeth three days ago. Who ever says it feels like a pizza burn must not remember how it really feels. The procedure itself is torture and the pain after is unbelievable. You can't eat, the bleeding went on for two days and my lower jaw hurts and swollen like someone punched me in the face. The hole left in the top of my mouth had to be stitched to control the bleeding and the graft was glued on my lower teeth. Hydrocodone helps but it still hurts, the stitches, the graft and my top and lower jaw is throbbing. When I bend over it starts to bleed again. I will not have the other side done and now i'm thinking about cancelling my upper bone and gum graft, thanks to a bad orthodontist I have to suffer and I don't think I can do it again.

I got a Gum Graft done over my front lower gums on tuesday. It is now Friday and I am still in pain. A lot of Pain! Ive broken my nose, many times, had teeth pulled, and all sorts of other things and this has been the worst! Swelling, pain, and bleeding are still present. Hunger lasts all day because men like myself do not fill on soup and milkshakes. Honestly, if your considering to have this done beware! And at the costs of this surgery the results better turn out well worth the experience!

OK, call me ignorant. What is gum graft? Never heard of it.

Am 3 days post-graft right now. A few Advils the first and second day are all I've needed. Am still eating babyfood and meal-replacement drinks, and will be for a few more days, but that is only an inconvenience.

Thank you for your insight, the aftermath, sounds very painful to me.

Essentially a gum graft is very simple: 1)the dentist (usually a tal surgeon or a periodontist) cut a small piece of your palate, on the same side than you're getting the graft; 2) he then attach it to the gum (which has been previously cleaned and cut to receive the graft) with threads; 3) place a plaster on your palate and on your graft; 4) recommendation are to eat on the other side, avoid brushing on the side of the graft, be careful when brushing the other side, use ibuprofen if you feel inflamation, also it can feel like a small burn during 3-4 days. We see you in 7-10 days My personnal experience (gum graft on the right side): 1)everything is done under local anesthesia, so I felt nothing at all; 2) when it's started to unfreeze the palate was feeling like a burn, a little more than the so called small burn. However, a few hours later the plaster at the palate droped, (probably because I coughed, since I was producing a lot of saliva and finding a little difficult to swallow)... Read more

Talk about pain! I have never experienced anything more painful in my life than the aftermath of the gum graft I had last Friday. I was told that some people don't need any pain relief at all after the procedure- yeah, right! You find me someone who doesn't notice a huge section missing from the roof of his mouth and a bulging, freakish-looking mass stitched onto his gum! Plus I haven't been able to eat or drink very well, even six days after the surgery. I'm grateful that I can preserve the health of my tooth, but I'm sure having to work for it.