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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Anyone had gum grafts for gum recession?

44 replies

JustOneMoreSliceOfCake · 19/05/2015 10:47

Private or nhs?
I have one or two gums that have receded due to grinding and clenching teeth. I have awful jaw problems as a result but the receded gums have really knocked my confidence.

Has anyone had it done. If so how much did it cost?

OP posts:
FanFuckingTastic · 19/05/2015 10:57

I'm interested in this answer also, I have an emergency appointment today for an abscess so I'll ask then if there's no definitive answer. I need a mouth guard also, for night time grinding and clenching, and my gums at the front lower side are very receded, it's a health/medication thing exacerbated by my clenching habit, I clench when stressed or in pain, and I'm usually one or the other.

Original poster
JustOneMoreSliceOfCake · 19/05/2015 11:18

Are you me FanFuckingTastic? I have an emergency appointment for tomorrow morning for an abcsess. Have health issues that cause stress and clenching/grinding. Gad a mouth guard which made the jaw worse but stopped me damaging teeth as much but didn't help at all with the recession problem.
Also have a lump come up in my cheek that I've been referred to dental hospital for so praying that's nothing serious. Losing the will!!

OP posts:
steff13 · 19/05/2015 12:00

I haven't, but I have two friends who have. One got a graft from a cadaver, the other had the graft from somewhere else in her mouth. The one with the cadaver fun tissue had a better all-round experience, but they are both happy with the procedure.

MaidOfStars · 19/05/2015 12:02

You can get gum grafts???? I am an overbrusher, a bit of a scrubber Wink and right handed, so my left lower incisors and canine are receding a little. It doesn't hurt or look too bad...at the moment.

Original poster
JustOneMoreSliceOfCake · 19/05/2015 12:28

Yes MaidOfStars. I doubt I will get them on the nhs as it's more of a cosmetic procedure than a health concern. Looking around it doesn't look like it will be cheap though. It looks awful though! Had a look on YouTube at the actual procedure and wish I hadn't. Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
JustOneMoreSliceOfCake · 19/05/2015 12:28

Thanks steff do you have any idea how expensive it was?

OP posts:
ReallyAmAtBreakingPoint · 19/05/2015 14:17

OP - you could try posting in General Health topic and hope Mrs Morton (dentist) replies.

Mrsmorton · 19/05/2015 14:21

I've never heard of them on the NHS. Noarmaninopunani is a dentist who's got special powers in this area, hopefully she'll be along soon.

I'm not really interested in gums but I do remember that the success rate of these isn't great and there are other options such as gingival veneers.

Woobeedoo · 19/05/2015 20:05

Wow, I never knew such a thing existed. I'm quite heavy handed on the brushing, I need to calm down or I'll have teeth right up to my sinuses. A number of years ago my dentist applied 'buckles' which are white filings over the exposed bit of root. No anaesthetic, just that cold air blast so you can imagine the pain.

MrsTrelis · 19/05/2015 20:37

I am so glad to read this as I am both a clencher and an overbrusher and for the first time in my life dreading the dentist.
It looks like there are options though as I thought I was doomed to eroded gums or even losing my teeth.

Feel a bit better about my next appointment now.

Original poster
JustOneMoreSliceOfCake · 19/05/2015 21:14

They are on the nhs list price on one of the band costing around £200 I think but not sure if it would have to be quite severe for a dentist to recommend that. I'm seeing my dentist tomorrow so hoping he will be able to offer me it privately or at least give me some good advice.

OP posts:
FanFuckingTastic · 19/05/2015 21:31

Had my appointment but dentist lady didn't know, she's not my usual lady.

My abscess is bigger after five days of antibiotics, she took an x-ray and did that frowny dentist face that scares me, but decided we could save the tooth (even though I just wanted it gone so it wouldn't hurt anymore), so no treatment and five more days antibiotics.

And then I had to go to the urgent care centre because she couldn't prescribe painkillers, so I got to wait twice, once at emergency dentist and once at UCC. Got some codeine though, which has helped a little.

Couldn't get a check up until the end of July to discuss gum disease which I have currently because I can't clean my sore area properly, or receding gums, which has been so bad recently it's reached the bottom of my gum line and tried to flip onto the inside of my lip, I had a TMI (flap) of gum just hanging there, but it's healed itself back on fortunately. I have my sonic toothbrush and electric flosser, and a mouthwash to treat the gums, hopefully it won't get too bad in that time.

poppym12 · 19/05/2015 22:07

i was quoted for a graft last year following an extraction. it was £320 at a private dentist.

Original poster
JustOneMoreSliceOfCake · 19/05/2015 22:42

Oh no FanFuckingTastic what a crap day Sad
Glad you got some pain killers sorted and that you're tooth is salvageable (although I know what you mean about just wanting it out)
Hopefully you will get sorted properly at your next appointment.

Thanks poppy did you go ahead with the or procedure?

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 20/05/2015 09:03

It's a specialist procedure though and whilst the nhs may say they provide it, they don't actually employ any specialists (I've never heard of any nhs periodontist a outside of a dental hospital) so they can't really do it. Another example of the lies the nhs tell about NHS dentistry.

felkov · 20/05/2015 09:12

I had it done about 5 yrs ago but it was in Canada so not sure that helps you much regarding costs or NHS. It was $$$$ but well worth it for me. I had to eat mush for a few days but the result was lovely and still good 5yrs on.

BinToHellAndBack · 20/05/2015 09:27

I had one about 11 years ago although it cost me nothing. It was done in the day-surgery area of regular hospital (rather than a dental hospital) by the maxillofacial surgeons.

It was quite a bad recession, initially caused by slipping with my toothbrush and ramming the gum down and the root was exposed.

The graft used my own palate and that part was sore for ages afterwards (a year maybe) but was totally worth it. I also had a bruised and swollen hamster face for a week or two!

Walnutpie · 20/05/2015 09:55

Sore for a year! Shock is that usual?

I'm wondering what the gingival veneer is..off to google.

I'm an overbrusher and this issue is looming for me too.

Walnutpie · 20/05/2015 10:03

Ok! For anybody else wondering, a gingival veneer is basically a false gum.

Like a denture, without the teeth!

MaidOfStars · 20/05/2015 10:30

So a gingival veneer is purely cosmetic but a graft might restore/maintain tooth stability and health? Have I got that right?

Walnutpie · 20/05/2015 11:48

Yes, it looks like a graft is a good and not uncommon solution. It may need redoing , though, as it can recede just like the first one did.. But it definitely seems to be a useful procedure that really helps.

I've read about pinhole surgery that draws the gumline down without need for grafting. I think it's quite new in the UK. I'm by no means very knowledgeable in this area... Just starting to do a bit if research as realising I've been brushing too hard for too long.. Actually, since getting a sonic toothbrush I've noticed gum recession... Confused

BinToHellAndBack · 20/05/2015 11:53

Sorry to clarify - not the graft itself that was sore for a year but the site it was taken from on the palate.

And it was a gradual reduction in soreness over that year, and not to the point of interfering with eating etc. It's just a very sensitive area I guess!

TheBoysMamma · 20/05/2015 11:53

I didn't know you could get gum grafts I'm a over brusher too so following with interest

Walnutpie · 20/05/2015 12:12

Yes, bin, I see. You poor thing. Would you rather have had a gum graft from An alternate source, like bovine, or artificial, do you think?

fairgame · 20/05/2015 19:32

Would the gingival veneer stop the pain and sensitivity that is caused by the receding gum?
I had a buckle but it fell off within 2 weeks and its so painfulwhenever anything hot or cold goes in my mouth.