Gum graft - Anyone had one?

[mrsstats]

My peridontist told me I need to have a gum graft due to receeding gumline. Ok, fine. Not a big fan of the dentist but I usually follow orders. He tells me we take a piece of skin from inside your mouth, place it on your gum, stitch it and we are done. We will call you after we find out what your insurance covers.

Well, of course I google the gum graft and find out what a really horrible procedure it is. Can't eat anything except soft foods for several weeks, very painful etc. OK, not liking this much but if it must be done ok.

Dentist calls, tells me my out of pocket amount. Nothing horrible. I ask ok, so am I put out for this procedure. Nurse or whoever, says no, just novacane. I say, I dont think so. She tells me this is how they do it all the time. I tell her I heard very painful, she says they do it this way and they have had no complaints. The more I read, the more I know this is not the way for me. Just want to hear from anyone who may have had this done and if so, did you just have novacane?

 

[jfranklyn]

I'm having one in a few weeks too, so I'm interested to hear what people have to say. However, I'm not having the skin taken from my mouth. My periodontist uses donor tissue - says it is a MUCH easier recovery when the roof of the mouth is not involved. I have a friend who is a hygeniest who said the same thing - the actual gum graft procedure is not bad and the recovery is very manageable, but people who have the graft taken from the roof of the mouth used to suffer terribly.

I was also given a prescription for Valium to take 1 hour before the procedure.

 

[pat fan]

My sister had it done, I think it was only novacane. She had it done a little before our '07 trip, so she had to be careful what she ate. I believe they used her own tissue, not a donor.

 

[NYEmomma]

I'll be watching this thread with interest.

My gum has been pulled away from my two front lower teeth for basically all my life. The pediatric dentist always said that I needed a graft, but for whatever reason it never happened. My "adult" dentist has never mentioned anything about it, but it's still something I get nervous about every dentist appointment.

Dental procedures scare me so much!!! (and this is coming from a girl who has never even had a cavity, lol)

 

[CanadianMinnie]

I had it done when I was 12. It hurt, but was not the worst pain I have had from a dentist. I have almost every dental procedure done, and even though it sounded the worst, it was not . The dentist did use my gum tissue.

 

[christineann]

I've had the procedure a couple times, and while it's no walk in the park, I handled it okay (and I have to take advil after I have my teeth cleaned!).

The last time, the doctor gave me a prescription medication to take an hour before I got to his office. When I arrived I felt no effects from it, so they told me they were going to turn off the light and check back in 10 minutes (they had to wake me up). I went home and slept the rest of the afternoon and told the doctor that stuff made me loopy and I'd rather not take it again, and he said I saved about $400 by taking the oral medication instead of the IV. Good enough for me!

I ate a lot of jello and soup for a week or so and was fine after that.

 

[Rest&Relax]

Had one done couple of years ago. Wasn't much fun afterwards, but don't remember it being terrible. Took off another day from work just because I did not know how it would feel and you probable will need that if still taking pain pills. They did take the graft from the roof of my mouth and that was the worst part afterwards. The graft itself was fine. Had pain pills and special mouthwash I used. It is one of those things you do and want to forget.

Had only novacaine and I did fine during the procedure but I don't mind dental work being done. Had a plastic mouth piece I wore for couple weeks and ate soft foods until the roof of my mouth healed. Don't remember too much details, I tried to forget.

Oh! Would I do it again if I need it? Probable, I don't remember it being terrible.

Good luck! Mouth will be sore for awhile but you will be fine.

 

[MiniGirl]

I had one done, but it was over 20 years ago. I don't remember it being bad at all. In fact, they had given me a mirror, and I kept trying to watch what they were doing. LOL!

I could go on to explain more of what they did if you like. It was a long time ago, though, and I don't know how much things have changed since then.

I will say the gum was taken from the roof of my mouth. I was given something that resemble a retainer to wear for a couple of days while the roof of my mouth healed. I do remember some discomfort but no real pain.

I have always had terrible teeth and gums -- always have. It is not unusual for me to have tears streaming dowm my face during cleanings. This procedure, though, did not bother me.

 

[Disney Doll]

Had it done a while ago...no biggie. They give you novocaine. You can't feel anything. The most annoying thing was there were a couple of stitches in there, so I always found my tongue "going" there, if you know what I mean???

Kept an ice bag on my face that day because my cheek was a little puffy. Took Advil a couple of times for pain. He had given me an Rx for Codeine, but I never filled it because I didn't feel I needed it. Had to eat liquids and soft foods... I probably wouldn't think I could chomp on a steak, but spaghetti, soup, soft stuff was fine.

I can't say I thought it was horrible. Annoying maybe, but not horrible.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

My boss just had this done with novocaine as well and they took his tissue from the roof of his mouth to use on his gum. Not a horribly bad procedure as he went to meetings after having it done but does have to watch what he eats and does have stitches that he has to go back and have taken out.

 

[focusondisney]

I had it done when I was 12. It hurt, but was not the worst pain I have had from a dentist. I have almost every dental procedure done, and even though it sounded the worst, it was not . The dentist did use my gum tissue.

Sounds like my son. Baby & permanent teeth pulled, gum graft, braces. I feel so bad for what he went thru. We do have an excellent dentist. I trust him completely. I'm sure he thought it was needed, but now I regret doing it.

DS was maybe 9-10? when he had it done. Not positive on the age. I was told it would feel like he had burned the inside of his mouth, soft foods for a few days. Well, about 3 days later the roof of his mouth started bleeding quite a bit. I'm an RN, applied pressure (HARD!) couldn't get it to stop. Oral surgeon at his other office, 30 mins away, didn't know where. I'm driving alone with him & DD ( 3 yrs younger). Son is bleeding, starting to vomit from all the blood in his stomach. I of course was stressed & worried & I know I didn't handle it well.

Anyway, when I look back now, it feels like I let them torture my baby. DS is 30 & doesn't go to the dentist. Who can blame him. I think an adult can decide for themself about this. But I wouldn't recommend it for a child.

 

[cristit14]

I had it done 10-12 years ago. The worst part was the roof of my mouth. I had novacaine plus a Valium. I don't think it was as bad as getting my wisdom teeth out.

 

[NYEmomma]

Sounds like my son. Baby & permanent teeth pulled, gum graft, braces. I feel so bad for what he went thru. We do have an excellent dentist. I trust him completely. I'm sure he thought it was needed, but now I regret doing it.

DS was maybe 9-10? when he had it done. Not positive on the age. I was told it would feel like he had burned the inside of his mouth, soft foods for a few days. Well, about 3 days later the roof of his mouth started bleeding quite a bit. I'm an RN, applied pressure (HARD!) couldn't get it to stop. Oral surgeon at his other office, 30 mins away, didn't know where. I'm driving alone with him & DD ( 3 yrs younger). Son is bleeding, starting to vomit from all the blood in his stomach. I of course was stressed & worried & I know I didn't handle it well.

Anyway, when I look back now, it feels like I let them torture my baby. DS is 30 & doesn't go to the dentist. Who can blame him. I think an adult can decide for themself about this. But I wouldn't recommend it for a child.

Oh my gosh, that sounds AWFUL!!! Especially awful to have to watch your baby go through.

This is why I have all of my fingers & all of my toes crossed, hoping that DD gets my teeth & not DH's. I've never had so much as a cavity or ANY problems with my teeth aside from braces whereas DH has had fillings upon fillings and crowns and deteriorating enamel. Every visit to the dentist he comes home with more work that needs done, no matter how well/often he brushes & flosses. And the gets it all done w/o novocaine.

 

[mrsstats]

Thanks everyone. Spoke with the dentist today, they will give me valium plus the "sweet air". They told me I could use cadavir tissue if I wanted but it is an additional $250 and I am not too sure about using that. So, I told them OK & scheduled it for 8/12, a Friday so I will have 2 days to recover before having to go back to work.