How Long Does It Take Gum Grafting to Heal?
Gum grafting helps restore lost gum tissue. The time it takes to heal is based on the graft type as well as your health, along with how closely you adhere to aftercare instructions. Although it takes several weeks to fully get better, the pain mostly goes away in the first few days.
The Initial Healing Phase
The first week is when healing begins. The treated area will steadily stabilize as time passes, with soreness or swelling expected to diminish. Taking a graft from the roof of your mouth could also make the donor site especially tender. Your dentist might use a shield on the spot to cut down on pain.
During this phase, one should eat soft foods in addition to being gentle when practicing oral hygiene to keep the graft from being disturbed. Do not do things that put stress on your mouth, such as chewing hard things or rinsing strongly.
Recovery's First Weeks
By the second or third week, all of the grafted tissue starts to integrate into the gums around the entirety of it. Generally, sensitivity improves as swelling goes down. Even though the most important work toward improvement is complete, changes to diet and oral care may still be necessary.
Frequent follow-up visits allow the dentist to monitor each healing progress. All stitches used in the procedure can dissolve without assistance, or the provider can take all of them out at a planned visit. Lasting discomfort is usually minor and can be managed through the use of over-the-counter pain relievers.
Final Results with Long-Term Healing
It takes four to eight weeks to heal fully. During this time, the grafted tissue gets stronger, joining with the gumline around it. The time needed is based on recovery and doing what you're told after the procedure.
The gums should decidedly feel normal after full recovery, offering improved coverage along with protection for the teeth. A customized oral hygiene plan maintains results as well as prevents further gum recession.
Factors That Can Change Healing Duration
Your gum grafting recovery speed can be changed by many items. Lifestyle habits, such as regular smoking or consistently poor oral hygiene, can slow the healing process. Recovery can also be affected by health problems that already exist, like diabetes.
Each aftercare instruction, like every dietary change and oral rinse that is prescribed, can help healing go better. Drinking sufficient water and eating nutritious foods also helped the recovery process.
Final Considerations
While the healing process is different for everyone, most of the discomfort fades in the first week and more progress occurs in the following weeks. If you take care of a gum graft, it will help keep gums healthy and protect teeth, giving you lasting benefits. If you have a number of issues while healing, staying in contact with your dentist guarantees recovery remains on course.
If you have more questions about gum grafting or how it could work as a part of your treatment plan to achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see if gum grafting can help you.