3 Reasons to Have a Gum Graft

While some gum recession problems affect all the teeth, some only occur on one tooth. This can happen after an injury, through overbrushing or because of a gum problem in the area. If the gum around one of your teeth has been receding for years, then you may have got used to having less gum here. You may not like the way it makes your tooth look but you can live with it. However, there may come a stage when your dentist advises you to have a gum graft done on the tooth. This typically involves taking some tissue from the roof of your mouth and grafting it on the problem area to build more gum around the tooth.

Why is this a good idea?

1. Make the Tooth Look Better

If you're losing gum above or below one of your front teeth, then your smile may be affected. The tooth will look bigger than the rest of your teeth and may stand out. If you have a graft added to the receding area, then you create new gum around the tooth. This restores your gum line and makes the tooth look normal again.

2. Avoid Sensitivity Problems

While an area of receding gum won't fix itself, it may stop at a certain level. If this happens, the gum will look low, but the tooth may not be affected by the recession. However, if the gum keeps receding, then it may eventually expose the bottom parts of the tooth that are supposed to be covered and protected by the gum. This can include nerves and roots.

If you lose enough gum for this to happen, then the tooth may become very sensitive. You may find it hard to eat and drink hot and cold things without suffering pain. A gum graft covers this area over again so that exposed areas get some protection. This usually deals with these kinds of sensitivity problems.

3. Protect the Tooth

If part of your gums recede to a level where your tooth's root is exposed, then you may have problems with the tooth itself. It may be more prone to infection and you may even lose the tooth if it isn't treated. Again, having a gum graft should prevent this from happening. The graft will grow over the bottom of the tooth to give it the shielded coverage it needs.

To find out more about how gum grafts work and how they will help you, talk to your dentist.