Your dentist will suggest a gum graft when the gingiva (gums) have receded a significant amount. This will be a solution to not only help your smile but to protect and maintain the integrity of the periodontal health of your oral cavity.

> Aggressive brushing and/or flossing methods
> Irregular tooth positioning
> Bruxism (grinding) and/or clenching of your teeth
> Trauma to tooth and/or surrounding tissues
> Poor oral health and/or hygiene habits
> Genetics

There are several ways that gum recession can occur:
> The gingiva has an unusual redness and/or inflammation
> There is recurrent bleeding while brushing and/or flossing
> There is increased sensitivity to hot, cold and/or acidic foods and beverages
> Irregularity in the length of the teeth (certain teeth can appear longer than others when comparing)
> Tooth mobility

Gum grafting is a relatively simple surgical procedure aimed at covering exposed roots and restoring thickness to the gums. This procedure is performed under local anesthetic and is done without causing pain to our patients. The following are the steps to this procedure:

• • The dentist performs a deep scaling of the area to eliminate bacteria and reduce the risk of infection.
  • A graft is taken from the patient's palate. The dentist determines its size according to the area to be treated and its function (thickening of the gums or covering of the exposed root).
  • The tissue and membrane is placed onto the treated area and then is held in place with stitches.
  • The gum heals and the graft integrates into the area where it was applied.