What is Grafting?

Grafting is a procedure used to replace / restore missing or receded tissue. There are two types of grafts that are possible in the oral cavity:

1. Gum Grafting:

The three most common reasons for Gum Recession are:

• Aggressive brushing -- Aggressive brushing with a hard bristled brush may be a co-factor in gum recession and subsequent erosion of the neck of the tooth.
• Excessive biting forces -- Clenching and/or grinding causes bending / flexing of teeth, which may lead to fracture of a small portion of tooth structure at the gum line and consequently bone and gum recession.
• Crowded and misaligned teeth -- Teeth that are positioned outside the normal arch form of the jaw are subject to having abnormal forces placed on them during chewing or brushing, causing recession.

If I do not mind the looks, how would a gum graft benefit me?

Associated with every type of gum recession, there is bone loss, because the bone resides just beneath and supports the gums. Therefore, if the gums have receded, then the bone too has diminished. The purpose of gum grafting is to arrest the process of recession and thereby halt the loss of tooth foundation (bone) as well.

Cosmetic Gum Grafts.

The teeth and gums that support them must exhibit symmetry in order to appear beautiful. Development of a proper gum line is essential in any dental cosmetic treatment.

2. Bone Grafting:

Bone grafting is performed to reverse the bone loss that is most commonly caused by:

• periodontal disease,
• loss of a tooth/teeth, or
• ill fitting removable dentures.

It is also used to augment bone prior to implant placement in areas that lack sufficient height or thickness for proposed implant treatment.

Why is preserving bone and surrounding gum tissue important?

Loss of bone and gum tissue following tooth extraction often results in both functional and cosmetic defects. Such tissue loss often results in an unsightly collapsed appearance, especially in the front of the mouth where proper mainenance of tissue health is critical to normal esthetics. In other areas of the mouth, loss of bone and gum tissue often compromise the dentist's ability to adequately replace the missing teeth with conventional removable or fixed bridgework or with a dental implant supported prestoration.

How can bone and gum tissue be preserved following tooth extraction?

Today, because of advances in dental surgical procedures and bioengineering, bone and gum tissue loss following tooth removal can either be greatly reduced or completely eliminated.

Following removal of the tooth a specially bioengineered graft material that helps support bone formation is placed within the extraction socket. The bone graft material has similar structure to human bone, and not only supports new bone growth but also has been shown to preserve bone and overlying soft tissue following tooth removal. Because gum tissue grows at a much faster rate than bone, natural fiber membranes are used to prevent gum tissue from growing in and displacing the bone graft before it matures. The need for the use of membrane is normally determined at the time of surgery depending on the clinical situation. This system helps prevent bone and gum loss following tooth loss.