Soft Tissue Grafting

A soft tissue graft may be necessary to protect the teeth from the damaging effects of
tissue recession. Gum recession is the process in which the tissue that surrounds the
teeth pulls away from the tooth exposing the root surface. Over time an exposed root
can cause tooth sensitivity, and if not treated could lead to tooth loss. A gum tissue graft
may be recommended, to repair the damage and prevent further dental problems.
There are three different types of gum tissue grafts, connective tissue grafts, free
gingival grafts, and pedicle grafts.
Connective-tissue grafts are commonly used to treat root exposure. Before the
procedure the exposed tooth root is thoroughly cleaned and planed to remove plaque
biofilm, calculus, root contaminants and root irregularities. During the procedure, a flap
of skin is cut at the palate and tissue from under the flap is removed and then stitched to
the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root. After the graft has been removed from
under the palatal flap, the flap is stitched back down. Free gingival grafts also involve
the use of tissue from the palate, but instead of making a flap and removing tissue
under the top layer of flesh, a small amount of tissue is removed directly from the roof of
the mouth and then attached to the gum area being treated. In a pedicle graft
procedure tissue is grafted from the gum around or near the tooth needing repair. The
flap, is only partially cut away so that one edge remains attached, this flap is called a
pedicle. The gum is the pulled over or down to cover the exposed root and stitched into
place. This procedure can only be done if the site of the donor tissue is thick and
healthy.