Do Gums Grow Back After a Bone Graft?
Bone grafts are a common procedure performed by dentists on millions of people every year. They are done in response to tooth loss or periodontal disease which have resulted in loss of bone density in the jawbone. When this deterioration happens, bone grafting may be required to repair the damage. Bone grafting also ensures that the jawbone and surrounding areas are healthy enough to support any additional procedures that may be necessary, such as dental implants. One of the most common questions associated with bone grafts is: do gums grow back after a bone graft? Read on to learn more about the procedure and what happens to your gums after.
What is a bone graft and why do people need them?
A bone graft is a procedure that is usually performed on an out-patient basis in a dentist’s office. For the procedure, donor bone is grafted onto a person’s existing jawbone with the intended purpose of increasing the thickness of the jawbone. This is often necessary to help repair the damage done by tooth loss or periodontal disease. It is also a common procedure needed to support tooth replacements with dental implants, which rely on a post fusing with the jawbone. If the jawbone is not thick enough, the post will not fuse.
For the bone graft procedure, the dentist will make a small incision in the gums at the graft site and expose the jawbone. They then graft donor bone onto the existing bone, which needs support and suture the gum tissue back together. Over time this new bone heals with the original bone forming a thicker, stronger bone structure.
What happens to the gums after bone grafting?
Gums typically grow back after a bone graft, but the extent and quality of the gums healing will vary based on the overall healing process. Initially, after a bone graft, the gums will start healing and covering the graft area. This typically happens within a few weeks of the procedure. Over the next few months, as the bone graft fuses with the existing bone, the gums will continue to adapt and heal around the area, ultimately growing back to like they were before the grafting procedure. In some cases, the gum tissue won’t grow back to cover the area in the way, the person or dentist wants. In these cases, the dentist or periodontist may perform a gum graft or recontouring procedure to ensure optimal gum health and appearance.
Sometimes dentists may recommend using membranes or growth-stimulating proteins to support your body’s natural bone and gum tissue regeneration. One method for doing this is called guided tissue regeneration (GTR). It involves placing a small mesh layer between the gum and bone after the bone graft is attached to the existing bone. This mesh prevents the gum tissue from growing into the space where the new bone needs to grow after the graft.
What does this mean for me?
Speak with your dentist today to learn more about your specific context. Your dentist will be able to analyze your mouth and gums to let you know about how bone grafting would impact your overall mouth and your gum’s ability to grow back. Each person is different, so it is important to understand your unique circumstances and how bone grafting may impact you.