Your soft tissues or gums are important to your oral health and to the appearance of your smile. When gum tissue recedes, exposing the roots of the teeth, it can cause discomfort, tooth root damage, bone loss and detract from the aesthetics of your smile. Soft tissue grafting enhances the gum tissue around teeth and dental implants for improved comfort, appearance and overall oral health; we offer this procedure at Stafford Oral Surgery & Specialists.

Gum tissue can be lost or recede for several reasons. Gum, or periodontal, disease is one of the most common factors, but aging, trauma, oral hygiene habits and other reasons can lead to soft tissue loss. Soft tissue grafting is used to protect the tooth root by adding tissue to cover the roots from a donor source, usually the roof of the mouth or adjacent gum tissue.

Gum Grafting for Dental Implants

Soft tissue or gum grafts can be needed for both natural teeth and dental implants. When the gum tissue is lost, the surgical site of an implant can be exposed. Not only can this lead to bone loss that can put the dental implant at risk, it can have a negative impact on the appearance of the tooth. The metal implant may be exposed, creating an unnatural appearing smile. A soft tissue graft can protect the implant and restore an aesthetically pleasing smile.

A soft tissue graft can help reduce sensitivity or discomfort for those with natural tooth root exposure, protect the jaw and improve the appearance of the smile. This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, with minimal recovery time needed. Contact Stafford Oral Surgery & Specialists if you want to learn more about the benefits of soft tissue grafting to improve your oral health and the beauty of your smile.