Perio question???? Anyone has soft tissue grafts!!!

Message

#1 Post by **discomom** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:09 am

Hey, have you had soft tissue grafts done? I have read they take tissue from the roof of your mouth and place it in the area that has recession. My boss has had this done and she said that it really wasn't too bad. Just wondering what your experience was. Please, don't scare me toooo badly

Thanks Lori

#2 Post by **jf74** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:27 am

It's nothing major, I had 2 ( one on each side at a month interval ). It sound a lots worse than it is.

The day they did it I bled for a couple of hours ( light bleeding, nothing major ). For the first week I did not eat on the side that they did the graft just to be sure everything stay there, but on the untouched side I could eat anything. For the first couple of days you can't brush in that area and no contact sports of course

They put some kind of hardened bandage on it that stayed for a couple of days to protect the wound.

I took tylenol the day they operated me but that's it, no major pain. It was just sensitive to the touch for a couple of days and annoying a little bit because you can feel the stiches stretch each time you smile or talk.

After the first week I had a second appointment to make sure everything healed properly and they removed the stitches.

#3 Post by **discomom** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:02 pm

JF-thank you for responding! The area of concern on me is the bottom front tooth. It really has recession. My tooth looks about a foot long. I appreciate hearing that it wasn't bad. thanks again. Lori

#4 Post by **oceanblue** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:37 pm

Hi! I had a gum graft over the roots of my two front lower teeth while I was in braces. It wasn't fun, but I guess it could have been worse. The actual graft wasn't a problem at all - it didn't really hurt. However, having a bit of the roof of my mouth cut off and the stiches that followed, were not a good experience at all. The roof of my mouth bled for for about 6 hours or so afterwards. They had me wear a retainer type thing (without the hooks b/c it wouldn't have worked with my braces) on the roof of my mouth so the hole would heal. I was supposed to leave it on for a week, but I couldn't talk or eat or anything, so I took it out early. There was a blood clot there that i pulled away with it and it freaked me out so badly I passed out. So, don't do that! You might talk with them about options other than using the roof of your mouth for the graft? I could post a picture of my graft at some point if you want to see?

#5 Post by **eggraid101** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 5:25 am

Having the tissue taken from the roof of your mouth is the most common way to do a graft. The recovery is usually described as something akin to a bad pizza burn, but my wife had a few grafts done and she said it was very easy. This is a fairly routine procedure in a periodontist's office.

#6 Post by **discomom** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:08 am

OceanBlue--I gotta tell ya, you have me shakin' in my boots at your grafting story! I would like to see a picture of your graft though.

Eggraid-thank you for the information. I know of two other people who have had it done and they said that it wasn't bad either. I hope that I have that experience and not the one that OceanBlue had. I didn't realize that they put stitches on the roof of your mouth? I thought it was at the place of placement of the graft, unless that was what she was talking about and I misunderstood her.

Anyway, thank you both for your responses. Lori

#7 Post by **QKate** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:22 am

I had it done and it was fine- I am having more done soon. I have major recession plus post periodontal surgery gums- long story- anyway, I really researched my doctor and made sure I found one who has lots of skill and experience with it. If you can find micro-surgery even better, or google periodontal plastic surgery.

#8 Post by **payoki** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:23 am

without an insurance how much would all this cost?
I also need it on the lower front teeth but I don't have dental insurance.

#9 Post by **oceanblue** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:56 pm

I paid around $800 out of pocket and my insurance covered the other 50%. However, I had the graft cover the span of two teeth instead of one. Yes, I did get stiches around both the graft site and the roof of my mouth. While it sucked at the time, I'm fine now of course!

Here is a picture (graft on two front bottom teeth). You can tell I may need more grafts eventually. Damn my "thin tissue."

#10 Post by **jf74** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:38 pm

In Canada ( Quebec ) it costed me around 650$, insurance covered 80% of it.

I know some place have a technique where they use some kind of artificial tissue ( called alloderm I think ), so they don't have to cut the roof of your mouth, but I don't know how reliable this is.

#11 Post by **QKate** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:21 am

I just wanted to point out that the picture someone posted of their grafts? That look can be avoided. Specialists can make grafts look 100% great.

#12 Post by **QKate** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:48 am

Sorry, to oceanblue- after I posted that I felt bad- I didn't mean to be critical- it's just that I have done a lot of research on this, having had 6 teeth done so far and at least 8 more to go- and it can be done to where the graft can not be seen. Many perios do grafting- connective tissue graft is what you want. If possible, try to find someone who specializes in it.

#13 Post by **discomom** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:07 pm

jf74-oceanblue-q Your expertise please. since you have all had this done previously. Just wondering how much down time did you have or did you have none at all?> I am just curious cause I am a para-educator and I am going back to work on August 22. I work with behavior disordered children and the thought of getting busted in the mouth really scares me. Especially if mouth is really sore!

I am hoping that they can fit me in immediately so I can have some healing time before school starts. Just your thoughts would be a help. thanks again. Lori

#14 Post by **QKate** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:35 pm

Firstly, do you feel really confident in your doctor that is performing this? The one I went to is an expert, I literally travelled on an airplane to have it done. However, I have friends who had there's done with less experts and were fine, too. Yet also, I have in the past had work done to me by unskilled yucky periodontists- so I only urge from my own experience to research carefully.
Secondly, I had my top 6 teeth done in MArch- plus papilla grafting. Because of the latter I had 1 set of stitches for 1 week, and another for 2 weeks. I was able to rest the entire 2 weeks. I am soon having 8 bottom teeth done, stitches for one week.
I have heard people say they only need a couple of days rest, I like to be as restful as possible.
I had conscious sedation so it felt fine. Sore a couple of days, biggest thing was I couldn't eat properly for a wwek, normally for up to 2 weeks- 1st week had a plastic stent covering the roof of the mouth. By a few weeks later felt fine. It was worth it for me as I really needed it!

#15 Post by **neelie** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:37 pm

So glad to read these posts on gum grafts. I may be needing this down the road. My concern is that the gum grafted on would be a different color and look odd. Does time make all the gum color blend together? At one appointment my ortho suggested gum grafting and the following appointment said maybe bonding my front teeth. I have an appointment to discuss all choices at the end of the month even though I am months away from debanding. Thanks for any info on this subject.