Gum grafts anyone?

HockeyMom · Post by **HockeyMom** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 8:00 pm

Anyone in this group had to have gum grafts done?? I'm scheduled for gum grafts next week..looked at the archives about antibiotics..?painkiller recs anyone? The periodontist was very open to me calling him back w/antibiotics that could work.

Thanks guys-
HockeyMom

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:22 am

Hi H.M.,

What exactly is a gum graft? I have had laser surgery on my gums (ck. out "LANAP") twice now. Apparently it eliminates infection and stimulates new growth of gums and sometimes bone too.

Polly

HockeyMom · Post by **HockeyMom** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 4:58 pm

Well..it's where they take some tissue from your palate and use it as a graft to build up receding gums. Apparently I'm a grinder according to my dentist. He made me a nite bite guard and made me quit chewing gum about 10 years ago which seems to have made a difference with my upper teeth but it became apparent even to me (who was in denial since I pride myself on my great teeth!) that I had some significant gum recession going on..
I've never heard of the laser surgery....will have to look that up.

HockeyMom

JessesMom · Post by **JessesMom** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:36 pm

I have had gum grafts done. Two different ones, two different times actually. I had gum recession on the top and the bottom and therefore had to have two different procedures done as they typically only want to do one side at a time. I consulted on here before I had it done to see if there was anything I should avoid when it came to medicine...
I had gum recession due to the fact that I had braces in middle school. What orthodontists don't tell you when you get braces is that the movement of your teeth during the brace period causes your gums to thin out. So about a year ago I had my surgeries. My procedures went well and I healed fine. They do try to push the antibiotics on you after the procedure but due to my history with C-Diff and my MC I did NOT take the prescribed antibiotics. Doctors are too quick to prescribe antibiotics for many things and for this procedure they do so to "ward off/prevent infection". However from my research about MC I have found that antibiotics can really mess with us with MC. So I allowed them to give me the script for the antibiotics but I did not fill it or take them. I took the prescribed pain killers for about a day or two after the procedure but after that I didn't take anymore as I felt I didn't need it. I did come on here and ask which pain meds are considered 'safe' for us with MC, Tex was very helpful with giving me good information on that. Overall the procedure was more annoying when it came to pain but not that big of a deal. Eating can be tricky afterwards but other than that no biggie

HockeyMom · Post by **HockeyMom** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:14 pm

Thanks for the reply. I had it done Thursday afternoon....4 teeth on the bottom..one of those on both sides. I'm just achy now..Tylenol is ok but the "retainer" deal protecting my palate is driving me nutty...I gag a few times a day! I also look like I was in a fight with the swelling, bruising and additional plasticky dressing things covering front and back of those teeth. Actually it looks like I have chew in my mouth...ick.

I worked today which was interesting...I had to keep explaining to everyone why I look like this

HockeyMom