How Painful is CTG, Connective Tissue Graft?
The connective tissue graft technique was developed to restore the implications resulting from receding gums, increased root exposure, and the evolving development of functional and cosmetic issues. This procedure will restore lost tooth-root support by restoring and covering the areas of gum recession or root exposure. The aesthetic appearance of your smile is improved when your teeth are returned to a healthy look.
The CTG Procedure
The gum grafting procedure is painless. This is because your dentist uses a local anesthetic to numb the immediate affected area. A periodontist and an oral surgeon usually perform this connective tissue graft. You may feel some small movement or pressure during the procedure.
This treatment has two advantages. A connective tissue graft procedure is pain-free because the tissues on the roof of your mouth are intimately readapted to encourage and promote rapid healing. Connective tissue contains blood vessels, a feature that is quite advantageous to enable reattachment with the adjacent gum tissue. This unique feature allows a connective tissue graft to stay vital when positioned on an exposed root surface. The original gum tissue flap is situated to cover the connective tissue graft and to provide a blood supply. This reestablishes any lost gum height. With natural healing, the connective tissue graft creates a new attachment with the periodontal supportive fibers to restore the lost tooth-root support. Connective tissue graft surgery restores the healthy condition that existed prior to your gums receding and your teeth losing their bone support.
Gum Graft Recovery Pain
It is completely normal to have some discomfort or even minimal pain as you recover. This will begin to recede with each day.
You still might be anxious about what to expect. A recent study provided these findings:
- Mild pain was the most frequent and common, reported 70 percent of the time. Moderate to severe pain was reported 30 percent of the time.
- The average duration of pain from the treatment was 2 days.
- Periodontal plastic surgery, which includes gum grafting, results in more pain than the connective tissue graft procedure.
It is important to remember that the level and amount of pain experienced depend on many factors. These can include:
- Your own individual pain tolerance.
- The source and type of gum graft used.
- The type of medication recommended for your post-surgical pain.
It is conceivable that you may have less pain during your recovery period than before your gum grafting procedure. Another study evaluated patients who had received gum grafting treatment. The research found that the pain immediately following the surgery was significantly less than the pain prior to the procedure. Post-operative pain continued to decrease steadily over the next week.
The Benefits of CTG
Your normal, healthy gums will be restored, functionally and visually, with natural healing and recovery time. You will not only benefit from the re-establishment of the lost support for your teeth, but also from a cosmetically pleasing result. The identical color and form match your gums makes sure that the graft will blend seamlessly with the adjacent healthy gum tissue. It can be difficult to discern where the connective tissue grafts ended versus where your original gum began.
Related Article: Difference between an FGG and CTG?