Soft Tissue Grafting

When you look at your smile in the mirror, you probably look at your teeth. People rarely pay attention to their gums, which is one of the reasons that periodontal disease often goes unnoticed. However, the gumline can have a dramatic impact on the appearance and health of your smile.

If periodontal disease, age, or other factors have caused your gum tissue to recede, your teeth will appear longer. There is more tooth structure showing, because the roots have been exposed. Unlike the crown (upper part of a tooth), there is no enamel on the root. It is covered with a much softer material, which is more vulnerable to erosion from bacteria. This can cause or exacerbate tooth sensitivity, cavities, periodontal disease, or root canal infections.

Soft tissue grafting is a gentle surgical procedure used to restore the health, functionality, and appearance of gingival tissue. The procedure begins with local anesthetic to ensure your comfort, and we offer sedation if you would like. A small amount of healthy tissue is removed from the donor site, and then attached to the gingival tissue in the treatment area.

The most common techniques are:

Connective tissue grafting
– Tissue is taken from under a small flap created in the palate (roof of your mouth) and attached to the gums. The flap is then closed with sutures.

Free gingival grafting
– This is similar to connective tissue grafting, but there is no flap;
– Tissue is taken from the surface of the pallet.

Pedicle grafting
– A small flap is created in healthy gum tissue adjacent to the treatment site. One edge of the flap remains attached, and the flap is arranged to cover the exposed root.

The additional tissue helps to seal and protect the surface of the root and reduce sensitivity. The procedure improves that appearance of your smile by eliminating the “long in the tooth” look. We can also contour your gumline to create the ideal frame for your dazzling smile.