Gingival Grafting in Pound Ridge, NY

There are several techniques for gingival grafting, and Dr. Woo will assess which one is right for you during your initial consultation. On the day of your procedure, Dr. Woo will begin by applying a local anesthetic to the areas that will receive a tissue graft. Should you require it, sedation options such as nitrous oxide are available to help you feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Once it begins, he will remove tissue from an area inside the mouth, typically the roof of the mouth, and close it back up. Then he will place this new tissue onto the exposed tooth roots and shape them accordingly. Finally, he sutures up the area, usually with stitches that fall out on their own.

The time this will take depends on how many teeth need to be covered. One graft usually lasts about one hour.

After your procedure, you will likely experience some bleeding for the next 24 to 48 hours. We will provide you with medicine and instructions for caring for the site in the coming days.

For the first few days, you should follow all instructions and stick to cool, soft foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, and smoothies. These will ease the pain and swelling without irritating the area.

You will likely remain swollen for the first week, but you can slowly incorporate soft foods as you begin to feel it is appropriate based on your healing and pain levels. However, it is highly recommended that you avoid anything hot, spicy, chewy, or hard; this can irritate the gums and cause severe pain.

When brushing, be sure to go slowly and avoid the gums. Do not begin flossing again until given the go-ahead by Dr. Woo. He will likely want to have you back for a check-up a week or so after the appointment. Continue to follow Dr. Woo’s instructions and recommendations closely until you fully heal.