Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

If your gums have receded, leading to a "toothy smile" look, your dentist may recommend gum grafts. However, a lot of people avoid getting gum grafts because the procedure sounds a bit intimidating or they're not sure what it entails. Gum grafts will allow you to have a more attractive, less "toothy" smile, and they'll help protect your teeth from decay. And the process is not nearly as hard as you might imagine. Here's what to expect:

Harvesting tissue.

There are two different types of gum grafts your dentist may recommend. In most cases, autologous gum grafts are advised. For this type of graft, tissue is removed from the roof of your mouth and grafted onto your gums. If tissue cannot be harvested from your own mouth for some reason, your dentist may recommend grafts using cadaver tissue. This means that gum tissue will be removed from a donor's mouth and transferred to your mouth.

Usually, tissue is harvested from your mouth just before it's transferred to your gums. This will be the first part of your procedure. Your dentist will inject a local anesthetic so you don't feel any pain. You'll probably be given a sedative like laughing gas, too. Once the tissue is harvested, it will be trimmed and a special growth factor will be applied to it.

Applying the grafts.

Basically, your dentist will stitch the harvested tissue to your existing gums. The edge of your gums may be cut to stimulate healing. Your gums will be numbed while this is being done, so the only thing you might feel is some pulling sensations. It should only take your dentist a few minutes to attach the grafts. If you're under the influence of laughing gas, you may realize what's happening, but you'll find it humorous or amusing rather than stressful.

After the procedure.

Once your grafts are in place, your dentist will allow the sedative to wear off. Your local anesthesia will keep working for a few more hours, so you won't feel pain yet. Your dentist will likely send you home with a prescription for a pain reliever to take when the pain starts to develop. For most patients, the pain is mild to moderate. You'll want to steer clear of crunchy foods and eat only soft foods like pasta, yogurt, and applesauce for a few days. Rinsing with salt water every few hours will keep you comfortable.

Don't let fear keep you from getting the gum grafts you need. If you have any additional concerns, speak with a cosmetic dentist.