Soft Tissue Grafting

Healthy gums cover tooth roots completely and fit tightly against the crown. When gums become unhealthy, either as a result of toothbrush abrasions, an uneven bite, or periodontal diseases, the gum tends to sag away from the tooth, exposing the root. This affliction can cause root sensitivity, especially to cold or hot foods or drinks, and might be considered unsightly. In these cases, we recommend a soft tissue, or “gingival,” graft to reverse gum recession and solve any accompanying symptoms.

The soft tissue grafting process involves a few steps. To begin with, we anesthetize your gums to ensure that you remain comfortable. We then extract the graft from the donor site – generally the roof of your mouth, or the “palate.” The donor site is sometimes left to heal on its own, and in others requires a dressing.

Our next step is to separate the gums from the teeth, which creates a small flap providing access to the area in question. We remove plaque and tartar from the exposed root surface, and then gently place the graft and stitch it into place.