Need orthodontics advice- gum graft before braces?

[Northstar]

Hi, everybody. Wondering if any of you or your kids has experience or advice to share with me.

DD age 11 is going to need braces. Her orthodontist doesn't want to start till she's lost her last baby teeth. Meanwhile, she sent us to a periodontist for a consult because she thought DD's gums looked a little thin and fragile to deal with the amount of movement her teeth will be doing. She said she didn't think anything would need to be done immediately, but wants to have a periodontist on board once the treatment starts.

We go to see the periodontist. She says she recommends at least 2 gum grafts BEFORE the braces go on, to give time to heal... the sooner the better. She talks about the gum grafts like it's no big deal... a few days of discomfort that Tylenol will take care of. So we book appointments. But it's nagging at the back of my mind... of course the periodontist will recommend the gum grafts, she doesn't make any money by saying people DON'T need treatment.

Then I go home and start researching gum grafts. It sounds like the periodontist has underestimated the pain and length of recovery time that many people experience. DD is not happy... the only friend she has who had gum grafts with her orthodontic treatment says it hurt for two weeks, she couldn't talk, she couldn't do any physical activity.

So has anybody got stories to share about your or your kids' experiences with gum grafts?
And do you think I should cancel the appointments and go back to the orthodontist to ask her advice?

Thanks, Disfriends!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Why is she getting a gum graft? And what exactly is a gum graft? What are the complications from this procedure?

My dd is getting braces in Aug., and she had a frenectomy (cut the skin under the upper lip) and she is having issues with it after the fact.
This should have been a simple thing. Anyway, we are seeing the dentist MON., to figure out what is going on.

 

[Tuffcookie]

OP, My oldest DS had to have a gum graft before he got his braces many years ago. They took some of the tissue from the roof of his mouth to do this.

According to the orhodontist, he had a receding gum line so the grafting was to take care of that.

He had the procedure done at an oral surgeon's office.

TC

 

[mamamary]

Why is she getting a gum graft? And what exactly is a gum graft? What are the complications from this procedure?

My dd is getting braces in Aug., and she had a frenectomy (cut the skin under the upper lip) and she is having issues with it after the fact.
This should have been a simple thing. Anyway, we are seeing the dentist MON., to figure out what is going on.

I hate to jump in here but my son just finished with braces and I do not like how the skin under the upper lip looks between his 2 front teeth. I didn't think it would be noticable once the space was closed up. Anyway he had a cleaning last week and I asked his reg. dentist about this and he said "oh he needs a frenectomy". Don't know why the otho didn't think so. Do you mind sharing the issues your dd is having. Thanks.

 

[EdiePA]

My DS (age 27) had it done when he was 12. The graft itself didn't hurt, but the spot on the roof of his mouth where the graft came from did. This is a kid who has broken his elbow in three place and his arm in two and still says that was the worse pain he has ever felt.

That being said, his gum line still looks good.

Edie

 

[MiniGirl]

I had a gum graft when I was in high school. I had a receeding gum line and even brushing my teeth was painful because the gums were so low.

I remember the procedure itself as being very high on the "cool" factor. I was awake, but the entire area was deadened, so I didn't feel anything. I asked for a mirror and was given one because I wanted to watch as much as I could. I don't remember the recovery being difficult at all.

Ask around and see if any of your friend has a periodontist they really trust/like and get a second opinion. The braces will move the teeth around some and you don't want the teeth loosening up since they will be adult teeth. In that respect, it makes total sense. Of course, if your orthodontist sent you to the periodontist for that reason anyway it, obviously, is a legit concern. What does your regular dentist say about her gums?

 

[petchie]

mamamary, I also had a son with spaces and did not like how it looked. Orthodontist told me to let if be and it would fix itself. IT DID!
I guess it reabsorbed or something.


8 years later he still wears his retainer though, or his teeth shift since he had lots o space

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I hate to jump in here but my son just finished with braces and I do not like how the skin under the upper lip looks between his 2 front teeth. I didn't think it would be noticable once the space was closed up. Anyway he had a cleaning last week and I asked his reg. dentist about this and he said "oh he needs a frenectomy". Don't know why the otho didn't think so. Do you mind sharing the issues your dd is having. Thanks.

Well for starters she needed the frenectomy because her's was pretty pronounced. She had it done in Feb.

As it was healing she got a canker sore (never had one before this) and it has never really gone away or it is still healing. I don't know. It is all red up there and it bothers her still.

 

[Northstar]

Thanks, everybody.

I've had more conversation with DD. She doesn't want to do this. She is not fussed about her teeth not looking perfect, she's scared about the whole gum graft thing. She's 11, no need to put her through this now. We can delay braces till she's ready mentally and emotionally.

So I'm calling to cancel the appointments for the gum grafts and, if when we go back to the orthodontist she wants the gum grafts done before braces, well, we'll just deal with it then.

I hope everybody's teeth and gums turn out perfect, after all the pain and trouble!

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks, everybody.

I've had more conversation with DD. She doesn't want to do this. She is not fussed about her teeth not looking perfect, she's scared about the whole gum graft thing. She's 11, no need to put her through this now. We can delay braces till she's ready mentally and emotionally.

Sounds good to me! Hug your daughter for being so grown up! Sure wish I'd been able to tell my mom that, but she made me do braces, ugh.

 

[RF536]

I had a gum graft done when I was in high school. I don't remember the recovery being painful at all, I do remember having to have a plaster cover over the area for a week afterwards, the graft was on the bottom in the front. The area they took the graft from felt like I burnt the top of my mouth nothing to terrible.

 

[BelleRocks]

Thanks, everybody.

I've had more conversation with DD. She doesn't want to do this. She is not fussed about her teeth not looking perfect, she's scared about the whole gum graft thing. She's 11, no need to put her through this now. We can delay braces till she's ready mentally and emotionally.

Good job for listening to your kid. I went through something similar with my DD11, and everyone was like, you're the parent you just tell them blah, blah. Well, there are plenty of times you have to do that, but when you don't HAVE to, why not let her mature some?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Good idea! My dd is going to be 14 and we have been putting off the braces and frenectomy until she was ready as well.

 

[golfgal]

Well for starters she needed the frenectomy because her's was pretty pronounced. She had it done in Feb.

As it was healing she got a canker sore (never had one before this) and it has never really gone away or it is still healing. I don't know. It is all red up there and it bothers her still.

I know a few people that have had this done and were fine hours later. Have you been back to the dentist/ortho that did this? If she is still in pain and not healed from FEB, something is wrong. Mouth wounds heal quite quickly under normal circumstances.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I know a few people that have had this done and were fine hours later. Have you been back to the dentist/ortho that did this? If she is still in pain and not healed from FEB, something is wrong. Mouth wounds heal quite quickly under normal circumstances.

It looks like a canker sore. I had brought her back to the oral surgeon back in Feb when she started complaining and he said that is what it was.

She is not in pain but it bugs her and it is still red on her gums. We are going to the dentist tommorrow.

 

[golfgal]

It looks like a canker sore. I had brought her back to the oral surgeon back in Feb when she started complaining and he said that is what it was.

She is not in pain but it bugs her and it is still red on her gums. We are going to the dentist tommorrow.

Good plan. I would be more worried about it being infected if her gums are still read and the "cancer" sore is still there.