Gum Grafting

Gum grafting is primarily used to treat receding gums, especially where tooth has been exposed. When plaque and bacteria build up at the gum line, the gums start to pull away from the teeth and stretch, forming little pockets around the buildup. Even when these little pockets are cleaned out, they remain at the gum line and cause the gums to recede.  The doctors of Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group can help you correct this by repairing deficient gums with a gum graft. 

A gum graft procedure consists of harvesting healthy tissue from the roof of the patient’s mouth and transferring it to the site that needs reinforcement. This gives the deficient gum a replacement, and encourages growth of new material around the graft.  Gum grafting can be performed when receding gums become unsightly, or to cover teeth that have been exposed by receding gums and become much more sensitive.  If you think you could benefit from a gum graft, please contact us.

To learn more about gum grafting and all the services we provide at the practice, visit FrederickShawDDS.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Frederick Shaw in Austin, TX, call 512-451-7491.

Gum Grafts

At the Austin clinic of the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, we regularly see the ravages of periodontal disease on gum tissue. There are many restorative approaches for teeth, and mild gum surgery is frequently done to close pockets in the tissue, but reconstructing receded gums could require a more complicated type of graft.

If the gums have receded too far to be stretched back over the roots of the teeth, Dr. Shaw may think it best to add new soft material. If the new tissue also comes from the patient, this is referred to as a “self-donation.” Donor tissue is usually taken from the soft palate at the roof of the mouth. In some cases, a flap is cut into the soft palate and tissue is removed from beneath it, and the flap is sutured afterward. At other times, some of the outer surface may be transferred as well and sewn over the exposed tooth roots. The donor site would then be protected with surgical film while it heals.

The development of synthetic grafting materials and use of cadaver donors eliminates the need for one of the surgical sites. Getting new gum tissue may seem frightening to a patient, but the surgery has a very high success rate and should greatly reduce the sensitivity of their teeth.

Frederick Shaw, DDS, operates the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group at 1500 W 38^th Street, Suite 34, Austin, Texas, 78731. To schedule an appointment, call 512-451-7491 or visit FrederickShawDDS.com and fill out a contact form.

Pocket Reduction Surgery

Reducing gum pockets is one of the most important procedures performed at the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Center. Before full-blown periodontal disease develops, the gums become inflamed, which is scientifically described as gingivitis. At every step in the gingivitis to periodontal disease process, tooth decay below the gum line creates pockets which will lead to further decay without intervention.

When bacteria feed on tartar, they produce plaque. This is what causes inflammation, which makes the roots of teeth difficult to clean. As tissue rots away, the pockets they leave behind become breeding grounds for bacteria and repositories for more plaque. These pockets are difficult to reach with a toothbrush, but the damage they do to the gum around a patient’s teeth roots is easy to see. To fix the gums, Dr. Shaw will start with a deep cleaning to remove whatever plaque and bacteria colonies have accumulated in the gum pockets.

Closing the pockets may require a gum graft, but if the decay can be caught before it advances too much, it may only require the gum tissue to be pulled over the exposed tooth roots. Whether sutures or post-operation maintenance are required will depend on the specifics of the situation. However, gum reduction is a crucial preventive step, as well as a cosmetic restoration.

Frederick Shaw, DDS, operates the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group at 1500 West 38^th St, Suite 34, Austin, Texas, 78731. To schedule an appointment, call 512-451-7491 or visit FrederickShawDDS.com and fill out a contact sheet.