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Arverne Dental: Gum Grafts

Arverne Dental's Gum Grafts Page provides comprehensive information on gum grafting and its benefits in improving gum health and appearance. Under Dr. Lyuba Taft’s direction, our practice is dedicated to providing exceptional dental care in the Rockaway Beach community.

Understanding Gum Grafts

Gum grafting is also called gingival surgery or periodontal cosmetic surgery. It restores or improves the health and appearance of the gums. It involves transplanting healthy gum tissue to cover exposed tooth roots, improve gum contour, and thicken gums.

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Benefits of Gum Grafts

Gum grafting has many benefits for patients who have gum recession or aesthetic concerns.

  • Protection for Tooth Roots:

    Gum Grafting is a barrier to protect exposed root surfaces caused by gum recession. Exposed root surfaces are more susceptible to decay and erosion. This can lead to an increase in tooth sensitivity. Gum grafts cover these sensitive surfaces with healthy tissue to shield the roots and reduce discomfort. Patients can enjoy hot or cold food and drinks without feeling any pain..

  • Improved Aesthetics:

    Gum recession can affect the aesthetics of a smile by creating an uneven line of gum tissue and exposing the tooth structure more than desired. Gum grafting can restore harmony and balance in the smile by enhancing the gum tissue. This improves the overall aesthetics of your smile, increases self-confidence, and gives you a younger and more attractive look.

  • Reduced Risk of Tooth Loss:

    Gum recessiveness weakens the attachment between the gums and the teeth, making them more vulnerable to eventual loss. Gum grafts stabilize teeth in their sockets by covering exposed roots and strengthening the gum attachment. This reduces the risk of tooth loss. It also contributes to better oral health and the longevity of natural dentition. Patients can keep their natural smiles for many years.

  • Comfortable:

    Gum recessiveness can be uncomfortable, especially when the exposed root surfaces of teeth come in contact with acidic, hot, or cold substances. Receding gums can also cause irritation, inflammation, and soreness in the gum tissues. Gum grafting relieves these discomforts by forming a protective layer over the exposed root and restoring healthy tissue to its correct position. The patients experience a reduction in sensitivity and irritation. This leads to an improvement in oral comfort and quality of life.

  • Bone Loss Prevention:

    Gum recessiveness can cause bone loss, not just in the soft tissues around the gums. Bone loss can occur if there is not enough gum support. This will compromise facial aesthetics and affect adjacent teeth’ stability. Gum grafts promote the attachment of gum tissues to the surface of the bone, which helps maintain the integrity and strength of the jawbone. This helps to prevent bone resorption and preserve facial contours. It also provides a stable base for dental implants and other restorative procedures, ensuring long-term health and function.

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Types of Gum Grafts

Gum grafting offers a variety of techniques that can be used to treat different patterns of gum recession and meet the needs of patients. The type of graft chosen depends on the extent of the recession, the location of the affected area, and the overall health of the patient. The three most common types of gum grafts are:

  • Tissue Connective Graft:

    Tissue connective grafting is a highly effective gum graft that is performed most often. This procedure involves harvesting a small flap from the palate or another donor site. The flap of tissue contains connective tissues and a thin epithelium layer, which are carefully dissected before being transplanted over the exposed root surfaces. The sutures are used to secure the graft, allowing it to blend with the surrounding tissue and promote healing. Connective tissue grafts are ideal for restoring gum thickness and volume, improving gum appearance, and reducing the sensitivity caused by exposed roots.

  • Gingival Free Graft:

    A gingival free graft is another technique commonly used to increase gum thickness and augment gum tissue. This procedure involves the transplantation of a thin layer from the palate without the creation of a flap. Free gingival flaps comprise keratinized tissue, unlike connective tissue grafts. This provides greater resistance and resilience to mechanical trauma. Free gingival is especially suitable for areas of thin or fragile tissue, like around dental implants and in patients at high risk of receding gums. Free gingival grafts increase gum thickness to protect tooth roots beneath and improve the stability of gum tissues.

  • The Pedicle Graft:

    The Pedicle graft is a special technique that uses nearby gum tissue to cover exposed root surfaces while maintaining the blood supply. This procedure involves lifting a flap from adjacent healthy tissue, stretching it over the recession, and creating a hinge or "pedicle.” The tissue remains attached. The flap is sutured to allow the tissue to integrate and heal with the surrounding tissue. The pedicle grafts have the advantage of not requiring tissue to be harvested from the palate. This reduces surgical time and discomfort for patients. They are reserved for situations where sufficient donor tissue is available near the recession site. However, this may not work for all patients and recession patterns.

How to Choose the Right Gum Graft

The choice of gum grafting depends on several factors including the location and severity of gum recession as well as the quality and quantity of the existing tissue. It also depends on the treatment goals and preferences of the patient. Dr. Lyuba Taft at Arverne Dental will evaluate your oral health and recommend the best gum grafting technique to achieve optimal results.

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Gum Grafts

Gum grafting is usually performed in the following ways:

Evaluation and Consultation: Dr. Lyuba Taft will assess your oral health during your first consultation. She will discuss your concerns, treatment goals, and the best gum grafting method for you.


Tissue Harvesting: If a connective graft has been chosen, a flap of connective tissue will be harvested from the palate. A thin tissue layer will be taken directly from the palate if a gingival-free graft is chosen.


Graft Placement: The harvested tissues are carefully placed and secured using adhesive or sutures over the recipient site, ensuring that exposed tooth roots are covered and the gum tissue is augmented.


Recovery and Healing: Following the procedure, some patients experience minor discomfort, swelling, and temporary restrictions in diet and oral hygiene. Dr. Taft provides postoperative instructions and will monitor your progress at follow-up appointments to ensure optimal treatment outcomes.

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Arverne Dental Gum Grafts: Experience the Benefits at Arverne Dental

Arverne Dental encourages you to make an appointment with Dr. Lyuba Taft if you have gum recession or are worried about the appearance of your smile. Our experienced professionals will evaluate your oral health, discuss treatment options, and create a customized plan to improve your smile's aesthetics and restore your gum health.


Arverne Dental can help you learn more about the benefits of gum grafts. We look forward to achieving a beautiful, healthy smile that will last a lifetime.



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