Recession & Soft Tissue Grafting

Q: What is Recession?

A: Recession refers to exposure of the roots of the teeth caused by a loss of gum tissue and/or retraction of the gingival margin from the crown of the teeth. The appearance alone may be bothersome, or it may cause you to cringe because the exposed roots are sensitive to hot or cold foods and liquids.

Q: What causes recession?

A: Your gums may have receded for a variety of reasons, including aggressive tooth brushing, pull from a muscle attachment, ortho treatment or periodontal disease. The cause would need to be addressed before any procedure is completed to prevent further recession following treatment.

Q: Why is it a problem?

A: As you may have already noticed, gum recession can affect the look of your smile as well as cause sensitivity to temperature, root caries & bone loss. If left untreated, the gums may continue to recede.

Q: How can it be treated?

A: Recession can be treated with a gingival soft tissue graft. This procedure can be done for one tooth or several teeth in the same area.

Q: What is Gingival Tissue grafting?

A: It is a surgical procedure that uses tissue from either your palate (roof of the mouth) or another donor source (Allograft) to cover the exposed root, thicken the gingiva and reduce the possibility of further recession.

Q: What should I expect after the surgery?

A: Once the graft is complete, you will use a special rinse to keep the area clean & reduce bacteria levels. Extra care should be taken to leave the surgical site alone while the healing occurs. A special diet of soft foods will be necessary for the first week after the procedure is completed.

In order to monitor the healing and results achieved, you will return to see Dr. Chou for about three no charge post-operative visits.

Q: What are the costs involved?

A: CT graft or Allograft - $1150 per site

All post operative checks are no-charge.

Please call to set up a consultation and let’s see if tissue grafting would be right for you.

(541) 773-9222