How Painful is Gum Grafting?
Gum grafting addresses all gum recession and protects every root of teeth. If seriously receded gums have caused tissue loss, a gum graft can help get it back and make your smile look and work better. Even if the idea seems scary, knowing how much it might hurt when you get oral surgery can make you ready and sure of yourself.
During the procedure, local anesthesia numbs the entire treatment area. You may feel a bit of pressure or movement during the grafting process, but you should experience no pain. The grafting material, taken from your tissue or a donor, is carefully secured over the receded area to help it heal.
Depending on the amount of grafting needed, the process may take 45–60 minutes. To achieve even greater relaxation, sedation is chosen by some patients, especially if a large number of areas require treatment. Some discomfort is to be expected after the anesthesia wears off, but this can usually be managed with the suggested care after the procedure.
As anesthesia fades, soreness and sensitivity are common around the treatment area. If tissue was taken from the roof of the mouth, this site might feel a bit tender. Some people feel only a little bothered, but a lot of other people feel more pain.
Nonprescription pain treatments frequently work well enough to lessen pain, but a doctor might have to prescribe a medicine in limited situations. Both your dentist and your periodontist will give detailed advice about pain control that fits what you need. While the first few days might be uncomfortable, serious pain is not normal.
In the days after the process, you might feel some swelling and sensitivity, especially when you eat or drink. Eating only soft foods and avoiding all very hot or spicy foods can decrease all irritation. Careful following of all post-procedure instructions is additionally important since proper care can help keep discomfort to a minimum and assist healing to go smoothly.
Though soreness initially goes away within seven days, total recovery could take several weeks. During this time, do not brush the treated area hard so the graft is not disturbed. If discomfort lasts longer than the anticipated recovery time, see your dentist to check that healing is happening as expected.
Following every aftercare instruction can greatly affect how comfortable your recovery is. One can maintain certain gentle oral hygiene practices, avoid all hard or crunchy foods, coupled with using every prescribed mouth rinse to prevent any unneeded irritation. If a palatal graft was used, a protective covering could be put over the donor site to lower sensitivity.
Large swelling, potentially resulting in discomfort, may be addressed through the application of ice packs to the face's exterior for relatively short periods. Hydration, achieved through drinking a sufficient amount of water, additionally aids healing and lessens the probability of complications.
Gum grafting may cause some discomfort, but much pain is not usual. Soreness typically subsides within several days; furthermore, a complete recovery occurs during the subsequent weeks, assuming ample care is taken. If there are worries, speak with a dental professional about options for handling pain to help make the experience more comfortable.
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.