Cosmetic Gum Contouring Grafting in Little Rock, AR

When your gums recede, more of the tooth root normally covered by the gums is exposed. Now your teeth look longer. Because the roots are exposed, teeth with gum recession will be more sensitive to hot and cold and sweet or spicy foods. Gum recession is frequently the result of gum disease, as the infected gums are forming pockets and pulling away from the teeth. It can also be due to overly aggressive tooth brushing or improper brushing techniques. It's important to treat this, as the end result is full gum disease and tooth loss.

Cosmetic gum contouring and gum graft have some obvious, impactful aesthetic advantages — normalizing the amount of gums that you have can make your smile look more uniform and radiant. But these procedures go beyond cosmetics; gum contouring and gum grafts have a variety of health benefits, too. These procedures can help reduce your risk of gingivitis and, in some cases, help combat tooth sensitivity.

Gum grafts are almost always successful at returning coverage to the tooth roots that have become exposed through gum recession. The grafted gum tissue easily establishes itself in its grafted location.

In addition to stopping additional gum recession and exposure of the tooth roots, gum grafts can reduce tooth sensitivity and protect the roots from root decay. This is because the formerly exposed root surfaces now have adequate gum coverage again. Gum grafts from Dr. Jirik will also give you a more contoured, even gumline.

Gum Disease and Systemic Health

If you suffer from excessive gingival display or gum recession, you can benefit from cosmetic gum contouring or gum graft procedure.

Gum Graft vs. Gum Contouring

Dr. Jirik uses a Diode laser for all of our practice’s cosmetic gum contouring procedures. This process is gentle and virtually painless. Because the laser cauterizes the gum as it removes it, it also involves very little bleeding and a short healing process.

These procedures are typically performed in our offices on Main Street in Cabot. Local anesthesia is used. Depending on your unique needs, Dr. Jirik will perform your grafting procedure in one of three ways:

• Free gingival graft — Dr. Jirik removes a small piece of gum tissue from the roof of your mouth, and this tissue is stitched into place where needed to cover recession.

• Connective tissue graft — Dr. Jirik removes a small piece of gum tissue from the roof of your mouth, which is stitched into place where needed to cover recession.

• Pedicle graft — This method creates a flap of tissue in an area adjacent to your gum recession and uses this flap to cover the area of the receding gum tissue. Because the tissue used in a pedicle graft is not disconnected from its blood supply, it tends to create the most successful grafting. However, the patient needs to have ample gum tissue in the areas around their gum recession.

These methods don’t take long. Once Dr. Jirik has sutured your graft into position, you’ll wash out your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash. We’ll then go over how you need to care for your new gum graft.

Healing is much faster than most people assume. Dr. Jirik will prescribe antibiotics as a preventive measure. Most patients are fully healed in just one to two weeks. Most people can return to work the day after their gum grafting.

There will be swelling. It will usually peak around the third day and will fully resolve after a week, although it can last as long as 10 days. You can help to mitigate this by diligently using ice. Apply the ice bag to the side of your face where the surgery was performed. Hold the ice bag in place for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for the first 48 hours. It also helps to sleep with your head elevated for the first two or three days. If your swelling continues to grow after three days, or if the area feels hot and red, we need to hear from you immediately. After three days (two days of icing and one extra day), moist heat (heating pad, etc.) can be applied to the area to reduce residual swelling.

Thanks to modern local anesthesia, you’ll feel nothing during the procedure. If Dr. Jirik has used gum tissue from the roof of your mouth for the grafts, you will have some discomfort for a few days after your surgery. For an idea of how this will feel, we’ve heard the feeling described as being akin to that of a major pizza burn (from biting an overly hot pizza). Patients usually find over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medication adequate to keep them comfortable, but Dr. Jirik will also prescribe some pain medication. The palate of your mouth and your new gum grafts will heal quickly, usually in just a week or two.

You cannot eat or drink anything for three hours after your surgery. From there, you need to eat liquid foods for seven days, moving to soft/liquid foods for the next three weeks. Don’t eat anything that can get caught in the surgery site or tear your stitches. No chips, nuts, rice, popcorn, and the like. Avoid hot foods, drinks, and food that require active chewing while your mouth is numb. Stay away from hot food and drinks for another two weeks. Protein/nutritional drinks are a good idea, as are smoothies and foods such as yogurt. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Once the grafted gum tissue successfully takes to its new locations, these are permanent. As long as you follow a regimen of attentive home oral hygiene, your gum grafts will be there for the long haul.

Of course, this doesn’t guarantee that new gum problems cannot develop, but more attentive care will usually prevent that.