When is a gum graft recommended?
The gums are important to the well-being and appearance of the smile. When attacked by the bacteria in the mouth, the gums can begin to recede, compromising oral health and the smile’s aesthetics. Receding gums also may expose the tooth’s root, making the teeth more sensitive. In other cases, a patient may be dissatisfied with a natural gumline that is unusually high, exposing more of the teeth’s surfaces than is desired. An oral surgeon can treat gum tissue that is too thin. These scenarios are appropriate for an intervention known as a gum graft. This procedure, which can be performed by an oral surgeon, takes soft tissue from elsewhere in the mouth and places it to the graft site. This is known as a free gingival graft. When the teeth’s roots are exposed, the surgeon may also use a subepithelial connective tissue graft. In this case, tissue is removed beneath…