gum graft after surgery

Guest · Guest

I had pretty much the exact same experience as the post right above me. The thing that hurt the most was the novocaine injection (irony?). I had two teeth done (upper left canine and one next to it). It is now 24 hours after and I still don't really feel any pain (took a Cerebrex immediately after surgery but that was it - no Ibuprofen or anything). There is some minor soreness but the pain is nowhere NEAR the pain of braces. I go back in 1.5 weeks to get stitches removed.

One word of advice - although now it's too late. Don't read these internet postings on the operation. It really freaked me out right before the surgery (which lasted about 1 hour). The not being able to brush that area is annoying, especially with the plaster over the area that feels like a giant wad of chewing gum.

Another piece of advice - go to a periodontist, not a dentist.

Guest · Guest

I think an important point to consider is that there is a chance the procedure won't work. Ideally, you want the graft to actually be underneath the outer layer and not just slapped on top. This is what the periodontist did for me, and placed it between 2 arteries, thereby providing optimal bloodflow to the graft.

It is considerably more difficult for the donor tissue to take if it is just slapped on front or over a tooth.

Guest · Guest

Same as a couple earlier posts the novocain was the worst had some discomfort after but the Tylenol took care of it. Went to work right after and the next day (today) I am fine. The banade as mentioned above was more anoying but that is gone today.

It is Friday night, can I drink a beer now?

Guest · Guest

I just had one at around 4:30 today. The procedure was uncomfortable, but not painful. Now just about 20 mins ago, the thing they put at the top of my mouth where they took the skin from fell off, and I'm bleeding A LOT, and it hurts, a lot. Now I feel dizzy and lightheaded, so I'd best lie down.

Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.

Guest · Guest

I'm going to be needing my third gum graft, I'm 52, I was in my 40's for the other two, my Dr. gave me a knock out pill for the first two, I'm thinking I don't want the knock out pill for the third, will I have high anxiety? My fear is a panic attack during the graft.

Guest · Guest

This is not a painful procedure - I'm not quite sure what these other people are talking about. I've had this done twice, and now a third time and the most worrisome part about this are the 12 hours after the surgery - if you have no bleeding, then you've passed through the most harrowing part and the rest is just being careful not to disturb the areas.
This was a much more horrible procedure back in 1993 - they cut a square of tissure from the roof of your mouth and then cut your gums to make a bed for the tissue. Fast forward 15 years later and they take the tissue from a small incision in the roof of your mouth and graft it onto your gums - much less invasive. In 1993, I almost bled out during the night as the dentist didn't do a good job in tying off one of the vessels on the roof of my mouth. The second time in 2003 I didn't bleed at all afterwards.

Guest · Guest

No pain at all. Not even a little. Lots of bruising and swelling though. There are new procedures that are much less painful than before.

Guest · Guest

So, its been 5 days since my graft (lower front teeth--dead center) and the graft itself looks like a soggy scab after you get out of the shower. All discolored and rather gross looking. I fear my breath stinks all the time, horrible taste in my mouth....and when I say horrible, I mean HORRIBLE. I'm a brush 3 times a day and floss once type of person, so not being able to do either in the front of my mouth is KILLING me.

Anyways, is the color and soggy scab look normal??

jem83 · Newbie Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 3

I had the surgery ten days ago and the recovery has been pretty easy and I had one of those scabby looking things too, but my periodontist said it was normal, as was the discoloration. That was about 5 days ago and that nastiness has pretty much gone away (maybe yours has too?).
But I am worried because some of the incisions lost their sutures and came apart so I can see the graft underneath. My periodontist said this was normal too and not to worry, but how can gum knit itself back together if there are fissures in it? Has anyone had this issue? It's pretty gross; I feel like the inside of my mouth is the bride of frankenstein...

jem83 · Newbie Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 3

I had the surgery ten days ago and the recovery has been pretty easy and I had one of those scabby looking things too, but my periodontist said it was normal, as was the discoloration. That was about 5 days ago and that nastiness has pretty much gone away (maybe yours has too?).
But I am worried because some of the incisions lost their sutures and came apart so I can see the graft underneath and the gums beneath my lower front teeth have fissures between them and don't seem to be knitting together. My periodontist said this was normal too and not to worry, but how can gum knit itself back together if there are fissures in it? Has anyone had this issue? Will they suddenly start to settle down and not flap around? It's pretty gross and I apologize for writing this, although I imagine this is an understanding audience; I do feel like the inside of my mouth is the bride of frankenstein...

gum graft after surgery

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