Gum grafting can be a chore for most patients. Most people would consider surgery on the gums to be a painful and uncomfortable procedure. It is pretty standard to contemplate how much that is going to sting.
After all, nobody wants to suffer pain if it is not an absolute must, let alone suffering it in such a susceptible area as the gums. Just thinking about the operation makes people worried about what happens during the surgery, as well as after it. Thankfully, awareness of the process is the first step to alleviating the stress.
Types of Gum Grafting:
Connective tissue grafting entails using tissue from under the skin at the roof part of your mouth and placing it wherever required.
A free gingival graft involves removing tissue from the roof of the mouth and is common in treating individuals with thin gums.
In a pedicle graft, the tissue is from the adjacent gum used to cover the damaged area.
All of them are selected depending on the condition’s nature and the patient’s requirements.
Pain and Discomfort in Gum Grafting:
Pain During the Procedure:
After the gum graft surgery, you should not feel any pain since a local anesthetic will be applied. This makes surgery less painful to the body part that is being operated on as the area is initially anaesthetized. It will be slightly uncomfortable – you may feel that you are being pushed or pulled, but it should not hurt. The kind of anaesthetic administered during gum grafting is special so that you have no feeling of the process.
Pain After the Procedure:
Typically, there will be some discomfort and minor swelling after the procedure. Pain experienced is often tolerable and discrete, with the onset usually only being for a few days. This is slightly higher than or approximately the other dental procedures like tooth extraction. Over-the-counter drugs used in managing post-operational pains may be administered to the patient.
Managing Pain and Discomfort:
Pain Relief Options:
- To treat pain after surgery, you can take drugs like painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs.
- The pharmacological approach involves procedures that are less invasive and available over the counter, like ibuprofen.
- Applying an ice cube to the skin of your face can reduce swelling and also make the area numb to minimize pain.
- Avoid spicy foods or foods that can make the area hot and swollen to facilitate healing after the surgery.
Aftercare Instructions:
Aftercare is equally crucial since it will help reduce the intensity of pain and enhance the rate of recovery. For the first days, following your dentist’s advice is vital, including not touching the graft site with water or a toothbrush and avoiding intense cleaning of the area.
Smoking and using straws should also be avoided because they can interfere with the healing process. To allow the gums to heal, minimize or prevent exerting yourself when doing physical activities.
Risks and Complications:
Thus, gum graft surgery is considered relatively safe; patients should be aware of the potential complications. Some complications can be infections, blood loss beyond what is expected, or the graft not functioning as it should.
They can influence such a state and may result in increased pain. Symptoms indicating complications include severe pain in the graft area, increased graft size, and prominent graft discharge.
Comparing Gum Grafting with Other Treatments:
The standard treatments for gum recession other than gum grafting are as follows. These include scaling and root planning, which involves cleaning the teeth and gums and employing regenerative materials such as Enamel Matrix Derivatives. Some patients who want to adjust their orthodontists have laser therapy. Although such options can be used, they are primarily palliative and do not involve rebuilding the gums.
Cost of Gum Grafting in Islamabad:
The cost of gum grafting in Islamabad ranges between PKR 15,000 to PKR 20,000 per site. This cost may include the dentist’s charge, the cost of the anaesthesia, the cost of the graft material, and any subsequent appointments.
Book a consultation!
To schedule a consultation, you must contact a Dynamic clinic PK by phone or via the website. We also make arrangements for online bookings for clients. Do not forget to provide any medical records or dental history if needed during the appointment. This will enable the dentist to care for your dental health as much as possible.
Do not procrastinate on your gums because gum diseases can be severe. Make your appointment for a consultation and get the start towards a healthy set of teeth!