So I went in to see my dentist because the gum around one of my bottom teeth suddenly, in the past week, became sore and was receding way more than “normal.” The dentist’s verdict: I have a frenum that is pulling down on the gum and causing the receding gumline. I have to get a frenectomy and probably a gum graft to boot.
I am, to put it delicately, not a good dental patient. I managed to live through having all four wisdom teeth removed at once (though I had to bring my teddy bear), but the post-op was not handled as well as it should have been, which left me with a lasting phobia.
Just thinking about this practically has me hyperventilating. My dentist told me that me that the periodontist he referred me to is one of the top five in the country, but that doesn’t make me feel any better.
Has anyone ever had either a frenectomy or gum graft? Please, talk me down off the ceiling.
I’ve had neither a frenectomy nor a gum graft but I thought I might try to cheer you up by saying that I came in here thinking those were two totally made-up things, like from a sci-fi novel
Anyway - can you inquire about anesthesia? When I got my wisdom teeth pulled I was able to get it.
Well, looking up in Wikipedia I see one kind of frenectomy helps those who are “tongue tied”. This is the kind you will get, I think. I don’t know about the gum graft though. Good luck, I’ll send some good thoughts your way.
I would seek a second opinion. My dentist told me gum grafts are rarely done anymore, because in the long term, they don’t make any difference in the amount of gum disease or the loss of teeth.
I have absolutely no cite for that, but I would definitely find someone else to assess the situation – a periodontist, perhaps.
Same thing happened to my sister, graft and all. According to her it wasn’t too bad at all, though her mouth was sore for a while-the graft came from her upper palate. I just had a crown lengthening at the periodontist Monday. Basically he cut my gum and excavated some bone to expose more of what’s left of a tooth that needs a crown put on it. Only took an hour, maybe a little less. Local anesthetic but the Dr. will do sedation for those who want it. My gum is sore but ibuprofen takes care of that. The stitches are kinda annoying though.
It was both the best and worst dental procedure of my life.
It was the best because the oral surgeon gave me some valium to take before the procedure (“So take this about an hour before you come in. If you are still nervous when you get here, I’ll give you another one.”) and then some painkillers to take after I got home (which I didnt really need, but hey, who am I to turn down painkillers?). I, too, am not a good dental patient, and would dearly love if my regular dentist gave me valiums before I come in - even just for a cleaning.
So that was nice.
It was the worst because it was absolutely the most stupid pointless thing to do ever. Definitely get a second opinion. Five years later and now, in the places where I got the grafts, I dont have a proper gum line - I just have really fat slouchy gums.
It is, in my opinion, a dumb thing to have done (not that you are looking to do dumb things to your gums, but your dentist is dumb to have suggested it), but it’s nothing to be afraid of.
love
yams!!
Well, I saw the periodontist this morning. He concurred with the dentist and said it’s something that, while it’s not an emergency, definitely needs to be done. However, he also said that because of the position of this particular tooth, the problem is likely to come back unless I get orthodonture done to position it better. (He doesn’t do that, so I don’t think it was a sales pitch)
I’m all torn up about this. He is supposed to be one of the top people in the country, he sits on various professional boards, he edits a journal and publishes regularly…I mean, if anyone knows the best procedure, it’s him, right? But yams!! really has me thinking.
I told him I’m a bad dental patient and promised to “take care of me.” (in a good way) Valium is a good idea, but I didn’t think to ask. I’ll call him today.
As someone who had $6000 worth of oral surgery so I wouldn’t have to have dentures, I’m amazed at the number of people I know who claim that it wouldn’t bother them a bit to have their teeth replaced with dentures. :eek:
I had a frenectomy before I got my braces off, when I was a teenager. (At the same time I also had this procedure where they go around your teeth the way you go around a grapefruit segment. The idea was to sever all the bits that connect so they’d grow back stronger before the braces came off. Hell, I dunno, I was 15.) The frenectomy is a non-issue. Seriously, no big deal at all. Can’t tell you about the gum graft.
As someone who has spent a similar amount trying (unsuccessfully) to save several teeth, the idea has a certain appeal to me (yeah, I know there would be LOTS of downsides on the other hand, a hell of a lot less hassle and pain just getting it over and done with once).
Re the OP: Can’t comment on the medical necessity. However I’m also severely dentist-phobic. To the point where I had a panic attack once when the dentist and I had different expectations for an appointment (me: “check irritated area near in-progress work”; her: “install crown”). The current dentist is very good about dealing with fear - I flat out told her at the first visit that I have a well-earned fear (hard to numb, hamhanded family dentist, cavity…) and if she could just hit me with a hammer, or give me horse tranks, that would work fine. Instead they give me Halcion an hour beforehand and nitrous during the major work and though I’m still nervous, I also don’t really much care that they’re making scary drilling noises in my mouth lalalalalalalawheeeeeeeeee…
It’s worth discussing that sort of option with the person who will be doing whatever work you have done. I had a root canal last year and (after a horrible experience with one a few years before) told the endodontist of my history, and that I’d be stoned on Halcion. He doesn’t use that much (does do nitrous though) so wasn’t all that familiar with it, but I assured him that given my history, he really, REALLY wanted me stoned out of my mind during the work.
late 60s, ancient codger if a dentist using the older slow drills, no novacain … if he was still alive he would still have the scars where I bit him and got to the bone. never drill an 8year old without sedation and anesthetic… I need valium to go in for a cleaning. If I need work done, we move to heavy sedation and someone to drive me to and home again. My ideal would be something like versed so I wouldnt remember a thing and novacaine for the pain…
Just in case anyone is curious how it turned out, pear-shaped is how it turned out.
The dressing came off of my graft 3 times, despite my religious following of the after-care instructions and my total lack of eating solid food. I got cut off from pain meds, despite the agony I’ve been in for a week now, because it “shouldn’t” still hurt. He told me I’d be back on my feet in 48 hours; it’s a week tomorrow and I’m still dragging around like an old woman. Best of all, the graft failed and now I have to do the whole damn thing over again in 6–8 weeks.
The only good thing was that the valium did the trick and I was very relaxed going into the procedure. Also demerol is fun. Other than that, I’m pretty peeved about the whole affair. Well, the frenectomy seemed to work out okay, but really, any idiot can take a scalpel to a tiny muscle.
