DebbieZ
07-01-2007, 01:45 PM
Hi,
I'm new to this board so hello to everyone. I had a problem with receding gum tissue on two of my front teeth so I had gum grafting done.
The procedure was done on Friday and went very well. I did have a lot of pain when the long anesthetic wore off so I took a very strong pain med.
My left side of is very swollen. I look like a chipmunk. Is this normal? It's very sensitive to the touch. My dentist has me on antibiotics to prevent infection so I don't think it's that.
Plus what does the graft look like in the different stages of healing? Mine started with red to white to white and brown, etc.
Just wanted to share with anyone who has had this procedure done.
Take care,
DebbieZ
I'm new to this board so hello to everyone. I had a problem with receding gum tissue on two of my front teeth so I had gum grafting done.
The procedure was done on Friday and went very well. I did have a lot of pain when the long anesthetic wore off so I took a very strong pain med.
My left side of is very swollen. I look like a chipmunk. Is this normal? It's very sensitive to the touch. My dentist has me on antibiotics to prevent infection so I don't think it's that.
Plus what does the graft look like in the different stages of healing? Mine started with red to white to white and brown, etc.
Just wanted to share with anyone who has had this procedure done.
Take care,
DebbieZ
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Junebug08
07-01-2007, 03:19 PM
Hi there, I have had four gum grafts done over the last year. I did have some pretty bad swelling with each of these grafts but it subsided after about 3 days. Are you using ice? I found that helped with the swelling and also helped relieve some of the pain. I started icing as soon as I left the perio's office!
As far as what it will look like, I'm not sure I can help you at this stage. Mine was covered with putty stuff for the first week. I had to go back one week after the actual graft to have the stitches out. At that point, it was just pretty yucky looking! The area will eventually heal up, but I'm guessing this time frame will vary from person to person. But even to this day, the sites of my grafts are still whitish colored. One of my grafts didn't take and I had to have it redone. The last one I had done didn't take very well either so I imagine I'll be back to have that redone also.
Anyway, hope this helps a little and good luck!
As far as what it will look like, I'm not sure I can help you at this stage. Mine was covered with putty stuff for the first week. I had to go back one week after the actual graft to have the stitches out. At that point, it was just pretty yucky looking! The area will eventually heal up, but I'm guessing this time frame will vary from person to person. But even to this day, the sites of my grafts are still whitish colored. One of my grafts didn't take and I had to have it redone. The last one I had done didn't take very well either so I imagine I'll be back to have that redone also.
Anyway, hope this helps a little and good luck!
justcallmeangel
07-06-2007, 11:41 PM
Hi, I'm getting my graft done Friday, and I'm definitely nervous. I'm afraid of the novocaine, because I have never had it done before. I'm getting my two bottom front teeth done, but I'm just scared. What did you think of the whole procedure, pain-wise. How bad were the shots? Thanks in advance.
Junebug08
07-07-2007, 11:03 AM
Angel,
Sounds like you are having your grafts on the same teeth I did (2 of them anyway). The shots aren't that bad. For the shots in my gums, he used that numbing gel first so that helps out. I'm sure every perio does it different but I had about 12 shots in my gums and about 6 or 8 in the roof of my mouth. Those one in the roof of my mouth bothered me a bit, but after the first couple you can't really feel the rest. I know that sounds like a lot, but like I said, after the first couple, the rest are a piece of cake! During one of my grafts I had to have more novacaine b/c I could feel what he was doing, but that only happened once. The procedure wasn't painful for me, just a little uncomfortable thinking about what they were doing. I was in quite a bit of pain for a couple of days, but I'm glad to hear you are having it done on a Friday. That is what they suggested for me so I had the weekend to recover. That worked really well. The majority of the swelling was gone before I had to go back to work on monday. You will do fine, just try not to concentrate on what he is doing. That is where I ran into problems! Good luck and let me know if I can answer any more questions! Also, let us know how you make out!
Sounds like you are having your grafts on the same teeth I did (2 of them anyway). The shots aren't that bad. For the shots in my gums, he used that numbing gel first so that helps out. I'm sure every perio does it different but I had about 12 shots in my gums and about 6 or 8 in the roof of my mouth. Those one in the roof of my mouth bothered me a bit, but after the first couple you can't really feel the rest. I know that sounds like a lot, but like I said, after the first couple, the rest are a piece of cake! During one of my grafts I had to have more novacaine b/c I could feel what he was doing, but that only happened once. The procedure wasn't painful for me, just a little uncomfortable thinking about what they were doing. I was in quite a bit of pain for a couple of days, but I'm glad to hear you are having it done on a Friday. That is what they suggested for me so I had the weekend to recover. That worked really well. The majority of the swelling was gone before I had to go back to work on monday. You will do fine, just try not to concentrate on what he is doing. That is where I ran into problems! Good luck and let me know if I can answer any more questions! Also, let us know how you make out!
justcallmeangel
07-07-2007, 11:14 PM
Thanks for the tips. You're one of the few people who have made me feel a little better, instead of scaring me to death. I'll be sure to post how it went.
Junebug08
07-08-2007, 10:16 AM
I'm so glad I didn't scare you! I was afraid that I was going to! I was so nervous before my first one that I thought I would throw up. It wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined. (I have a very wild imagination!) That's why I said before, try not to concentrate on what is going on and you'll be fine! Good luck.
DebbieZ
07-08-2007, 11:59 AM
Hi,
I'm 10 days post gum graft and doing pretty well. I accidently brushed over the graft a couple of days ago and it started bleeding. I thought I messed up the graft but it seems to be fine.
I did three teeth and the grafts look different. From red to white to brown. Does the brown mean its dead tissue or just part of the healing process?
I see the dentist on Tuesday. I'll feel much better after I see her and she tells me everything looks good.
Angel - Be sure to let us know how it goes. My whole experience wasn't so bad. I did have some pain for about three days but it was very managable. The shots were no big deal. My dentist uses gobs of topical so I hardly felt the shots. I listened to a meditation tape which helped to relax me plus I took 2mg of Ativan (RX by my dentist) which REALLY helped me to relax.
Take care,
DebbieZ
I'm 10 days post gum graft and doing pretty well. I accidently brushed over the graft a couple of days ago and it started bleeding. I thought I messed up the graft but it seems to be fine.
I did three teeth and the grafts look different. From red to white to brown. Does the brown mean its dead tissue or just part of the healing process?
I see the dentist on Tuesday. I'll feel much better after I see her and she tells me everything looks good.
Angel - Be sure to let us know how it goes. My whole experience wasn't so bad. I did have some pain for about three days but it was very managable. The shots were no big deal. My dentist uses gobs of topical so I hardly felt the shots. I listened to a meditation tape which helped to relax me plus I took 2mg of Ativan (RX by my dentist) which REALLY helped me to relax.
Take care,
DebbieZ
justcallmeangel
07-10-2007, 10:54 PM
I have an additional novocaine question. I know you get shots for the roof of your mouth and the gums of the teeth being grafted, but are there any other spots where you get shots? Did you have to get a shot behind your teeth, like on the back side of the graft site? I was just wondering.
Junebug08
07-11-2007, 07:11 PM
I only had shots on the front of my gums around where the graft would be done and also in the roof of my mouth. I did not have any shots on the back of the teeth being grafted. There were many shots but they were all in just these two areas. Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with! When is your graft being done?
justcallmeangel
07-11-2007, 07:27 PM
Thanks for answering my question. I just want to make sure there aren't any surprises when I go in this Friday morning, otherwise I might freak out.
justcallmeangel
07-13-2007, 01:40 PM
Ok, well I did it! It was A LOT better than I thought. The novocaine didn't bother me one bit, not even the one in the roof of my mouth. The best part was that the topical gel was pina colada flavored :) I'm numb, but I can kind of feel the novocaine wearing off, so I'm interested in seeing how my mouth will feel an hour from now. It's hard figuring out what I can eat. I couldn't help but think about what was going on during the surgery, but I actually didn't care. I'm just glad the novocaine was easy, and that I didn't cry/barf/make a scene at the office like I thought I would. Thanks to Junebug and Debbie Z, because you guys really helped me calm down before I went in.
Junebug08
07-13-2007, 06:36 PM
Angel, I'm so glad that you made out okay during your procedure! Everything should be pretty well thawed by now so I hope you're still doing okay. You'll figure out what you can and can't eat by trial and error. Mashed potatoes worked well for me! Anyway, let us know how you're doing okay?
justcallmeangel
07-19-2007, 12:36 PM
Ok, here's my update. The first day was hard for me, because my mouth was bleeding and it hurt to eat. The rest of the time was okay. It didn't hurt as much as I expected to, and there was only light swelling on my chin. I went back to the periodontist today for a check-up, and he said the graft looks great. I got the stitches taken out of the roof of my mouth, which I'm so happy, because it was irritating. The graft is a nice healthy pink color, so I'm really relieved. I found out that sometimes the graft can turn white or gray and still be healthy. I still can't bite into hard foods, and I have to be extremely careful with brushing, but I can begin flossing in a few days, and switch back to my normal toothbrush in a week.
Overall, the gum graft was easy, it barely hurt, and it was a complete success.
Overall, the gum graft was easy, it barely hurt, and it was a complete success.
Junebug08
07-20-2007, 07:55 AM
Glad to hear everything is going well for you! Sounds like you had a much easier time of it than I did. I had pretty bad swelling for about 3 days with each of my grafts and pain for at least a week afterwards! I couldn't hardly eat either. Anyway....I'm so glad you aren't experiencing anything like I did cause it wasn't fun!