Anyone here had a gum graft?

[mhphoto]

I'm going to need to start looking for an oral surgeon because I need a gum graft.

Anyone here had one?

Experience? Pain? Anxiety? Was your donor site the roof of your mouth or AlloDerm? Cost?

Pretty nervous about this whole ordeal. Thanks.

 

[OKMike]

I am a dental hygienist and worked for Dr Brent Burchard for years (he is in mid-town Tulsa). He is the best in town. You need a periodontist (gum specialist) not an oral surgeon. There is more discomfort from taking the graft from the roof of your mouth, the actual grafting sight is usually pretty mild, so AlloDerm will be less painful but more expensive. There is a cosmetic side to grafting as well (if it is in the cosmetic zone) so you don't want just anyone doing the work. I have seen cases (by other drs) that looked like a big wad of pink bubble gum stuck on the side of the patient's gum tissue. Can't go wrong with Dr B.

good luck.

pm if you have questions

 

[bsmith918]

My sister has had it done. They can also use cadaver donor tissue, I think. From what I remember, it was VERY unpleasant and painful. I think they used tissue from the roof of her mouth. I take it you have a receding gum line? Good luck on it.

 

[ryanncass]

I am a dental hygienist and worked for Dr Brent Burchard for years (he is in mid-town Tulsa). He is the best in town. You need a periodontist (gum specialist) not an oral surgeon. There is more discomfort from taking the graft from the roof of your mouth, the actual grafting sight is usually pretty mild, so AlloDerm will be less painful but more expensive. There is a cosmetic side to grafting as well (if it is in the cosmetic zone) so you don't want just anyone doing the work. I have seen cases (by other drs) that looked like a big wad of pink bubble gum stuck on the side of the patient's gum tissue. Can't go wrong with Dr B.

good luck.

pm if you have questions

I had one it was from the roof of my mouth it hurt a lot. It does look like a ball of pink bubble gum sitting in my lip.

 

[mhphoto]

Dang guys… haha.

Thanks about the periodontist, I didn't know that. Thought they were the same…

Based on my research if the donor site is from your mouth the pain is increased, the recovery time is increased, the cost is decreased, and the possibility of rejection is decreased. With AlloDerm the pain is lessened since you don't have a gaping wound in your mouth, recovery time is about the same, possibility of rejection is increased, and it's more expensive.

Ugh. It sucks because it's not even because I don't brush right or my gums are getting old and crusty. Before I got brace I had one really wonky tooth that jutted outwards and when it was brought back in line the gum never came back up.

I'm leaning toward the option where I get to tell my facebook friends that "I have a dead guy in my mouth", but I'm really worried about spending $3-4k on something my body might reject and come away with nothing but punctured gums and a need for more surgery.

 

[OKMike]

It won't be 3-4 k, think hundreds not thousands. And your insurance might help.

 

[benjamin-benjamin]

You need to go to David Wong, he actually teaches the producdure and actually speaks internationally on this subject. He teaches this type of grafting all over the US, he has people fly in from all over to use him.
http://www.tulsagums.com/home.html