gum graft after surgery

If like to thank you for the best story I've read so far:) I'm 36 yrs old and I'm having this done tomorrow. The first of the three I need!! You ate very helpful and ill mostly read this again

I had a graft done on 2 sites 15 hours ago. I have a low pain tolerance. The only pain that I have had is from a slight headache. I took regular ibuprofin and it stopped. My dentist took my blood and separated the platelets and packed them on the site. That probably helped with the speed healing and no pain. I am using a plastic baby spoon with a very long handle to eat plain pudding and that feels very good. The donor site (platate) does not hurt, just feels like how it would after eating a piece of hot pizza. My gum graft site is tender, but does not hurt. I put this surgery off for 6 years as I am a chicken of pain and I wish I had it done sooner.  

Hi,

I've got connective tissue grafting two days ago for my three teeth. The worst part was to convince myself to have the surgery. I am a 39 year old female with very low tolerance to pain. My periodontist was nice to explain me all consequences. All in all, it boils down to this simple thing: Either get your surgery done and save your tooth, or don't get it and loose your tooth. I went prepared to the surgery: Got my ipod and eye masks so that I won't hear and see anything. I had visited several websites about the surgery and had seen the pictures of everything. All kind of discouraging. A friend of mine suggested doing meditation to let myself accept the tissue and heal quick. it also helped. I did not feel any pain during the surgery. When I got back hoome, the pain started. With ibuprofen, it was controllable. I went to see a movie in the afternoon. Some bleedign, not too many. The next day I was feeling great: No pain, no swelling, nothing. I started taking prescribed steroids against swelling the day before surgery. Just trust your dentist and you'll be fine. If I could do it, anybody can do it. 

 

I had this done one week ago. To be honest, everything I read online about the procedure itself scared me. I was reading things that said "procedure from hell" and "elephant sized needles." In actuality, the periodontist used a numbing gel before giving me Novocaine shots. And that dreaded shot at the top of my mouth? Just a little pinch. I flinched slightly, but more from the anticipation of the contact with the needle. I even asked for more shots. After that, I couldn't feel anything. The worst part of the procedure was being able to see everything that was going on. I'm not one who likes to see all the blood and such coming out of my mouth. I could also feel the pressure of the cutting and sewing, which was a particularly odd sensation. But it wasn't too bad. It was over in about a half hour. By the time I went to pay, the graft area started hurting just a little. The periodontist said that I should alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen. And if I really needed it, he prescribed Tylenol 3. 

The aftermath of the procedure was what I wasn't adequately prepared for. Many have said that they didn't need the prescription and that it wasn't too big of a deal. 3 days and they were running marathons. Eh, not quite in my case. Immediately following the graft I began to feel pain that intensified all the way home. By the time I got home I couldn't get a pill in my mouth fast enough (though it's extremely hard with the bandaging on the roof of your math to actually swallow the pill). Sleeping was rough the first few nights. As was talking, eating, and drinking. I couldn't really open my mouth too wide. Laughing and smiling were out of the question. Once the pain is controlled by medicine, it's just a weird feeling, like foreign objects are in your mouth. I started out eating mashed potatoes with an appetizer-sized spoon, as they were the perfect consistency. In the next few days I integrated yogurt, scrambled eggs, and refried beans into my diet. I worked from home the first two days after. Then I worked half a day on-site the next day. I spent most of the weekend resting and trying not to talk too much. 

I believe I swallowed the sponge that was sewn into the host site on the roof of my mouth in my sleep one night. That thing, while odd feeling, was my best friend I would soon learn. Now everything I eat or drink burns if it touches the top of my mouth. I'm at the point where if I'm not doing anything it the pain isn't so bad. But eating, talking, smiling, sleeping, laughing, running, all trigger pain on either the top or bottom of my mouth. The graft appears to have taken, and I anticipate being able to add more foods to my diet in the next few days. I'm still taking ibuprofen to control pain. And I wore my retainer last night for the first time which immensely improved my sleeping, as it served as a barrier between my tongue and the badly beaten up roof of my mouth. I am back to work full time this week, and find it easier, but no less painful to talk to coworkers and clients. Hoping that I only have to endure one more week of pain and soft foods. But I'll ask all these questions at my follow-up in two days. 

I had this surgery done on 4 teeth 9 days ago and it was nothing!  I felt nothing worse then a cavity during the surgery...was sore after so I took a pain pill because...why not?  I had them!  LOL   The next day got up went to work...was still a little sore.  Third day...was fine!  Did everything I normally do but ate soft foods.  Sometimes I think the only people who write in forums are the ones with bad experiences!  Was going to wait until next year to have the second quadrant done but now I decided to do it next month!

 

I had this surgery on 2/14/13.  I had major resession on my upper and lower right side with a root exposed on a tooth that had to be pulled.  I'm later supose to have an implant where the moler was pulled.  The surgery itselft was fine as I was out.  Was given a pill an hour before, I do remember the shots and they hurt, but I was in lala land so it was OK.  I kind of remember leaving the office but again, I was out of it.

I got home and my husband put me to bed.  All was fine until the numbing wore off.  I knew there would be some pain, but I had no idea how much.  I have a very high tollerance for pain as I get migraines.  Once the numbing wore off I did have a migraine along with extreme pain.  I did everything I was suppose to as far as not eating, not rinsing, etc.  I kept ice packs on the area.  I had let the meds wear off because I didn't know what kind of pain I would be in and wanted to see if I really needed the meds.  Most of the pain was the throbbing of the tooth that was next to the tooth that was pulled.  If I touch the tooth it just sends me through the roof.

There was lots of swelling and my cheek seem to stay numb for days.  After 4 days, the swelling went down and then it looked like someone punched me because I was now black and blue.  Oh, I also found out I was allergic to vicodin.  I woke up on day 2 with a sunburn like rash all over my upper body.  I called the doctor on day 4 about the pain and he said it was normal.

On day 8, I went for my check up and the doctor said everything was healing just fine.  Well the pain has not gotten better.  I'm on day 10 and have been taking 800mg of Ibprofin every 4-6 hrs.  I wake up during the night with pain so bad that I can't sleep.  I look like hell and have had a migraine all but 3 days.  Now I'm going through all my migraine meds too.

My upper teeth where the gum grafting was done is now starting to hurt, but that pain is nothing compared to the constant throbbing of the bottom tooth.  The roof of my mouth feels weird, but doesn't really hurt.  For me, it's just the throbbing of the tooth left behind.  I'm suppose to have my left side done next year, but after this experience I don't think I will, nor do I think I want to do this implant. 

I had no idea I would be bad.  If I would have known it was going to be this painful, I would not have do it.  Between the pain, no sleep and migraines, I look completly wiped out.  Hopefully the pain will go away soon.  Never again...

I had surgery done like this but i never had stitched in the roof of my mouth so i have a hole in my palett anyone else had this? And if so how long did it take to heal? Thanks!!

I had the surgery done at 930 am today and its now 7pm. I had a tooth on the bottom left and one on the top. I started to have pain around 1045am while waiting for my prescriptions to be filled. I took 800mg of ibuprofen at 1120 and then vicoden at 320. Ive been drinking liquids all afternoon and ate some applesauce. I've been putting ice 20 mins on and off both sides of my face. Other than when I was waiting for my prescriptions I haven't had pain. Ive been keeping up with pain meds so I don't get crazy pain. I am following drs orders of not looking at the site, not talking and keeping head elevated.

update: 7 months later: As of my last post, I was having alot of pain 2 weeks after my gum graft surgery. Well, it turns out that I had an infection and finally the brilliant doctor put me back on antibiotics. I did 3 consecutive courses of different antibiotics before it finally cleared up. During that time I had a terrible taste in my mouth and then I developed an abnormal sense of smell. After the infection cleared, I was left with loss of my normal senses of taste and smell. (parosmia). it was like a constant smokey chemical smell that became more pronounced when confronted with certain odors. Nothing smelled normal and nothing tasted normal. The doctor had no idea what could cause this and had never encountered this with any other patients. He said he was sure that it would go away. Well, 7 months later, it hasn't gone away. It may have decreased, or maybe i'm just getting used to it, but I still have an intermittent abnormal smokey chemical smell and certain things like coffee grounds, and strong food odors smell nothing like they are supposed to, but instead have this smokey chemical like smell. I did daily sinus flushes for a month. I don't have any sinus infection or allergies and am otherwise very healthy. Food stil tastes good thank god!, but many things don't taste as good as they should. I'm sure this is a very rare complication. I do not know what caused it, the infection, all the antibiotics or the toxic amount of ibuprofin I was taking. I guess I will never know. If anyone else has had a similar experience, I would like to hear about it. My gums are ok I guess, but I really don't see that they are much better than they were before the surgery. Afterwards, the doctor said, it's not about covering all the recession, it's more about giving you thicker gum tissue. !? That's not at all what he said prior to the surgery. Anyway, good luck to everyone. If I had to do it over again, I would not do the gum graft surgery.

Just had procedure done 3 days ago.  The procedure itself caused no pain, except for the novocaine shots which I had no choice but to tolerate.  It took about an hour for 4 teeth on upper left quad.  I was not given any anti-inflammatory because I'm unable to take that medication.  I was given a mouth rinse and a prescription Alleve.  No pain at all, even on first day.  The swelling is a different story as is my black eye.  Over the past couple of days, the swelling has shifted around the left side of my face so that I look horrible.  Now that I have a black puffy eye, I look worse!  I've been trying to stay home and wear sunglasses in public to hide as best I can when I have to go out.  Still no pain though, and I have no problems eating.  I"m just not eating any of my usual raw, crunchy foods.  I'm keeping to overly steamed veggies and soft proteins.  My biggest worry is how long the swelling and black eye will last, never mind if the graft took.  I had a cadaver graft and am hoping, after the incredible cost, that it was a success.  Just want to look normal again!

there's a new procedure out, called PRP, platelet rich plasma, done in boston. no donor site, they use collagen membranes with bone material, so it's a bone graft and gum graft in one (for those of us who have bone loss as well, this procedure is ideal). completely painless, plus, half the mouth can be grafted at once. so for severe recession cases, it is also ideal. i had one side done, and will be getting the other side done in three months. the cost isn't that much more, and the benefits are huge! worth looking into.

I had my top left three teeth worked on and I'm wondering if its okay to use all of my mouth when I eat. I got it yesterday and compared to all my throwing up from yesterday my teeth feel great. Its more comftorable for me to eat using all of my mouth but I'm afraid it might damage the procedure. Am I supposed to eat on one side??

I got mine done 10 days ago, and what they did is stitch the cut on my palet and afterwards, put some sort of wax so i have to touch it. Now that wax is of, the stiches have fallen out and im in no pain. You must have got a very bad periodentist, because what you decribing was exactly what i was fearing before the surgery. Find some other periodentist..

dont have to touch, my bad xD ..

I had a gum graft a week ago and today is the day when we go back to the dentist  to have the "band-aid" taken off, but yesterday the band-aid fell off and it really freaked me out, also the band-aid has been sort of shifting around for a few days, but i tried not to panic and just placed it back on the spot and pressed it down so it would reattach. but then today it keeps falling off and i keep reattaching it. but other than that i've been fine. actually from the first day when the numbness wore off the pain wasn't too bad it was maybe as bad as a bruise, and the part that hurt would switch randomly between the part they took the gums from and the part they put it onto, or sometimes both at once. but it was never so bad i couldn't handle it. actually since the numbness wore off i haven't had anything to ease the pain, and since yesterday it hasn't started hurting as often and when it does hurt it doesn't hurt as much. although on that first day when the numbness wore off thats when it hurt the most, but even then it wasn't that bad that i need to take something to ease the pain.