After your full dental examination, Dr. Nourian will discuss what factors may be contributing to your gum recession and/or causing the problems you’re experiencing.
It’s important to understand why the gum recession is occurring and take steps to address that issue before scheduling the surgery. For instance, if active periodontal disease is a concern, we will need to complete soft tissue therapy and cleanings before it’s safe to move forward with a graft. Or, if aggressive tooth brushing is to blame, we will talk about ways to use lighter pressure and a soft or extra-soft bristle brush.
Once we’ve halted the cause of the gum recession, we can move forward with the graft. After all, gum tissues won’t grow back on their own!
Caring for your surgical site after a gum graft is an important part of how successful it will be. We will provide you with a list of written instructions to follow and worry about missing something important.
A soft diet is best for the first several days. Avoid anything too hot or hard, as it may injure the surgical site. It’s normal to experience some mild irritation or possible bruising after any surgery. Wait at least two weeks before eating anything with small grains or seeds. We recommend avoiding all tobacco products for as long as possible, as they can delay the healing or success of the graft altogether.
