Periodontal Plastic Surgery
If you’re considering a gum graft, you’ve come to the right place. We are Perth’s trusted practice for gingival grafting. Our specialist periodontist is highly experienced, and our practice has been delivering outstanding results for patients for more than twenty years.
Gum grafting is a proven treatment designed to restore and protect your smile. It can replace missing gum tissue after gum recession (root coverage), strengthen and thicken thin gum tissue, or achieve both outcomes at once. By rebuilding and reinforcing the gums, a graft not only improves appearance but also provides long-term protection for your teeth, helping to reduce sensitivity and the risk of further recession.
Whether your goal is to improve gum health, protect exposed roots, or enhance the appearance of your smile, our team provides customised treatment plans to ensure predictable, long-lasting results.
Benefits of Periodontal Treatment
Periodontal treatment aims to remove the bacteria present around the teeth in the form of plaque and tartar, creating an environment conducive to gum healing and the re-attachment of the gum tissues to the teeth. This treatment can be done either surgically or non-surgically, depending on the severity of the gum disease and the individual circumstances and needs of each patient.
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is a dental procedure that reshapes the gum tissue, and sometimes the underlying bone, to expose more of a tooth’s surface. It is a procedure that increases the amount of visible tooth structure.
Purpose:
This procedure can be performed for restorative purposes, to prepare a tooth for a crown, or for cosmetic reasons, to improve the appearance of a ‘gummy smile’.
Restorative purposes:
When a tooth is fractured or decayed below the gum line, crown lengthening creates enough space for a proper restoration, such as a crown. It ensures there is sufficient tooth structure for a secure and stable restoration.
Cosmetic Concerns:
‘Gummy smile’ correction: If excessive gum tissue covers the teeth, crown lengthening can create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile. It can also correct asymmetries in the gum line, resulting in a more harmonious appearance.
Before and After
Connective tissue gum graft on the upper canines
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After:
Full thickness graft on the lower central incisor
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After:
FAQs
How painful is the procedure?
Pain intensity will depend on the patient’s pain threshold and many other variables which can be discussed at your initial periodontal consultation. Pain will vary from patient to patient. Generally, Nurofen (ibuprofen) and Panadol (paracetamol) are sufficient to manage the pain experienced after gum grafting. These are over-the-counter medications and do not require a script. However, we usually give you a script for stronger painkillers in case Nurofen and Panadol are not enough.
How long do gum grafts take to heal?
Typically it takes three weeks of initial healing for a gum graft to look ‘normal’. This means that the it takes around three weeks to look very close to its final result. After this, healing will continue for approximately four months. However, during this time you won’t really notice any more visual changes. We will see you for a follow-up appointment seven to ten days after your surgery to review your healing. This will be followed by a three week review, and then a six week review to follow up the healing progress.
Will my gums grow back after the procedure?
This depends on many factors, and unfortunately, there are no easy answers to this one. If the question is whether “gum growth” is possible or could be achieved, then the answer is YES. However, this does not mean that it could be achieved equally in all cases. The gums and level of root coverage, what people refer to as “growth”, will be assessed during the initial periodontal consultation.
If the aim of gum grafting is to have gums grow to cover the tooth further, then this will be achieved. However, please be mindful that sometimes, it is done with no “gum growth” in mind. In that case, the aim is to make the gums thicker. This helps with reducing the potential of gum recession (gum shrinking) and helps with keeping that area clean. If this is deemed necessary, then “gum growth” may not be achieved. Again, this will be discussed very clearly during the initial periodontal assessment and consultation.
Can a gum graft fail?
All our periodontal procedures are provided with a harmonious successful outcome in mind. However, like any other medical intervention, a gum graft can fail. If the it is completed appropriately, and our verbal and written post-operative instructions are followed at home, then the gum graft is unlikely to fail. In our experience, we have seen a minimal failure rate.
What can I eat after my procedure?
For the first week immediately after, you must avoid eating hard, crunchy foods. We recommend soft foods. This does not necessarily mean smoothies and mashed potatoes only. It can be rice, pasta, fish and chicken. These foods are soft enough to not cause any damage to the grafted site. After the first week, you can return to your usual diet, and as always, we are a phone call or email away if you have any queries.