What is the Success Rate for Free Gingival Graft?
Gum recession is an oral health issue that you should take seriously. Gum recession occurs when the gums begin to recede in the mouth leaving the roots of teeth exposed. Gum recession increases a person’s risk to tooth decay and gum disease as well, which can lead to more serious complications down the road. If you have gum recession, there are options for you. One of the most common options is the free gingival graft. If you’ve recently been told you are a candidate for a free gingival graft by your dentist, you may be wondering, what is the procedure’s success rate? Read on to find out the good news.
What is a free gingival graft?
A free gingival graft is an outpatient procedure performed by a periodontist in which the surgeon uses donor tissue to stop the recession of gums in the mouth. In this procedure, the periodontist will remove the donor tissue from the roof of your mouth and then graft it onto the gums. Over time, the gums and donor tissue heal together and form a new gum structure. Free gingival grafts can cost between $600-$1,200 per tooth. These costs can vary depending on several health factors, however.
The recovery from a free gingival graft is generally one to two weeks, but these times can vary based on individual health. The sites of the donor tissue and graft are usually tender and sore for 1 to 3 days after the procedure but can usually be managed with at home and over-the-counter remedies.
What is the success rate of a free gingival graft?
The good news about free gingival grafts is that they have an incredibly high success rate. If there are no complications with the procedure, the general success rate is above 90 percent. This means that if you follow your surgeon’s post operative care routine and take good care of your mouth while it heals you have a very good chance of the procedure being a success.
Are there alternatives to a free gingival graft?
If a free gingival graft is not a good fit for you either because of cost or something else, there are a few options. Scaling and root planing are alternative options that have decent success rates as well depending on the severity of the recession. This process will help remove accumulated tartar that is below the gum line. This may not work if the recession is too far along, however.
What are my next steps?
If you have gum recession it is important for you to speak with your dentist about your options. If your dentist recommends a free gingival graft, you should feel confident that the procedure will work to help stop the gum recession and ensure your overall oral health. These procedures have a 90% effective rate when proper care is taken following surgery and the recovery time, although uncomfortable, is relatively short. Speak with your dentist today to find out what is best for you.