Gum grafting main county can be a totally PAINLESS experience during the procedure due to local anesthetics. Although there may be some discomfort associated with having a gum graft AFTER the procedure, your periodontist will do everything they can to make your experience as painless as possible. The level of pain you experience will also vary depending upon what type of gum graft you have performed. If no tissue is removed from your palate, you will likely not experience much discomfort at all; however, if tissue is removed, you should plan on some mild to moderate discomfort following the procedure.
Once your surgery is complete, the anesthesia typically wears off after a few hours. This is usually when you will begin to experience any discomfort. It is common to also have some swelling for the first few days following your gum graft. To help alleviate this discomfort, your dentist may recommend over the counter pain relief medication, like Tylenol or Ibuprofen. They may also recommend antibiotics if they are concerned you are at risk of developing an infection.
Post-Operative Care for Pain Management
Although part of the healing process is simply a waiting game, there are some things you can do to help reduce your discomfort, and more importantly, reduce the likelihood of additional complications from occurring. Following your procedure, be sure to keep the following in mind:
- To help reduce and eliminate the bleeding, place gauze on the site, being careful not to place the gauze on top of the site, but rather to the side
- Avoid strenuous activities for 3-7 days
- Do not pull out your lip to try to see the wound
- Do not brush or use mouthwash for 24 hours
- Do not put your tongue in the area
- Avoid hot drinks and foods for two to three days and follow a soft food diet for the first week, slowly reintroducing harder foods little by little
- Avoid brushing the gums hear the surgical site for one month. When you do resume brushing that area, be sure to use a soft bristle toothbrush and use gentle movements
Are Gum Grafts Worth the Trouble?
Given the potential discomfort involved, and the time it takes to recover, it is understandable why some people are hesitant at the thought of having a gum graft procedure performed. If you are holding off on having a gum graft for these reasons, it is important to remember that although you will experience some discomfort, the pain is relatively minimal and very temporary. New techniques and materials have allowed us to treat gum recession with very minimal discomfort. Your improved smile and overall oral health, however, will be much longer lasting. Avoiding having this procedure performed may result in increased tooth sensitivity, and a higher likelihood of developing periodontal disease, which may result in you needing an even more painful procedure. If the fear of procedural pain is preventing you from scheduling a gum grafting procedure, talk to you dentist or periodontist about your concerns.
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