Receeding gums - need Skin Grafting - Any advice?

[Doglover8180]

I got some teeth that are ready to fall out..... the gums are all but gone on them....I have put the procedure off for as long as I can but now have to have gum grafting to add gum tissue back in....

Has anyone here had this done? How painful is this procedure for those of you who chose not to be put out during the procedure and what should I expect?

[anaj06]

I have had the procedure done twice...each time on 4 teeth. I have done local numbing both times and couldn't imagine being knocked out for such a minor surgery. The only painful part of the procedure was the first 2 or 3 needle sticks to insert the numbing agent. I felt nothing after that.

Now after the numbing stuff wears off, there is discomfort. Both times I did it though, I drove straight from the periodontist to work. My coworkers knew I was having it done and I wouldn't be talking the rest of the day. So, I just sat at my desk and got my work done. I did talk minimally.

The orajel liquid band aid stuff is great. You can put it over the area and nothing can rub against it to add to the discomfort. Especially helpful the first day or two. They gave me samples as I left both times; I never bought it.

HTH...let me know if you have any other questions.

[CW&M Mom]

This is the only procedure that I have done where I used laughing gas. Apparently I shouldn't use laughing gas cause it makes me bawl like a baby.

My dentist prefers to do skin grafting if he can have the person on laughing gas or some kind of tranquilizer to keep them calm. He doesn't like to do it with just shots. If I need to do it again...I'll hook me up to some valium before hand LOL.

[Doglover8180]

I was thinking this procedure would be a minor walk in the park.... I have been reading peoples experiences with the procedure online and am shocked to see how much pain people were in during and after the procedure.... I keep hearing that the needle into the roof of the mouth is the worst pain they ever experienced.... I am also shocked to keep reading how many people are constantly having to have this procedure done more than once.... I also was given no alternative by my dentist as an alternative solution... this seems pretty drastic - there has to be an alternative option, right? All my dentist keeps saying is - I will get an absest and infection and my teeth will fall out.... so surgery or absest/infection teeth fall out.... Seems like there has to be some other option......I am officially scared now... after what I have read online.

[anaj06]

I was thinking this procedure would be a minor walk in the park.... I have been reading peoples experiences with the procedure online and am shocked to see how much pain people were in during and after the procedure.... I keep hearing that the needle into the roof of the mouth is the worst pain they ever experienced.... I am also shocked to keep reading how many people are constantly having to have this procedure done more than once.... I also was given no alternative by my dentist as an alternative solution... this seems pretty drastic - there has to be an alternative option, right? All my dentist keeps saying is - I will get an absest and infection and my teeth will fall out.... so surgery or absest/infection teeth fall out.... Seems like there has to be some other option......I am officially scared now... after what I have read online.

I wouldn't be scared of the procedure; it is really not a big deal. They take a little bit of gum from the roof of your mouth and move it to the teeth line. It takes a little of an hour and you can walk out the door when it is done.

The first needle is not fun but it is not THAT bad either and the pain gets less on the 2nd and 3rd as the numbing starts to work.

Afterwards the roof of my mouth was uncomfortable for a few days (not painful, just uncomfortable). I didn't really have a problem with the gum line but this is where I was using the liquid band aid.

[Doglover8180]

I hear the needle for the roof of the mouth is unbearable and that you should ask for concious sedation..... opinions on that? Also, has anyone here requested Alloderm tissue instead of their own tissue - thus eliminating the pain and healing of the roof of your mouth, and reducing the risk of infection? I feel like I would want to opt for the Alloderm instead of my own tissue..... Opinions/Feedback?

[3timesoccermom]

Girl quit scaring yourself and do everything you can to save your teeth! You only get 1 set (well 2, really) free - the rest you gotta pay for! And I hear they aren't cheap.

[Doglover8180]

Girl quit scaring yourself and do everything you can to save your teeth! You only get 1 set free - the rest you gotta pay for! And I hear they aren't cheap.

Neither is this surgery.

[3timesoccermom]

No doubt about that doglover! I wish my sister could get this done - she really needs it as well.

[CW&M Mom]

I hear the needle for the roof of the mouth is unbearable and that you should ask for concious sedation..... opinions on that? Also, has anyone here requested Alloderm tissue instead of their own tissue - thus eliminating the pain and healing of the roof of your mouth, and reducing the risk of infection? I feel like I would want to opt for the Alloderm instead of my own tissue..... Opinions/Feedback?

I have had plenty of shots in the roof of my mouth. NO they are not fun...but certainly not the worst pain I've ever had...and it goes away quickly.

Childbirth is way worse
gal stones...way worse
nerve pain when I got a picc line placed...way worse
Mastitis that ended up being mrsa....way worse
Heck abcess Teeth....way worse pain.

I've had braces, teeth pulled, abcess teeth, wisdom teeth removed, root canals and the skin grafting. I've even had a hole made on the top of my mouth to my nose with a laser. The skin grafting I can't even remember...so apparently it wasn't that bad.