So, that's what a gum graft is like

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Well, I finally went to the oral surgeon yesterday for the first of two gum grafts. I was a bit nervous as you would expect.

Before the surgery started, I had to try out the stent that was made on Monday.

I gagged immediately. Luckily, the dentist’s assitance was handy with a rotary tool and was able to trim the back off a little bit. For some reason, I thought the stent was going to be flexible, but it’s actually quite rigid.

Next up, it’s IV time. I don’t have a problem with getting stuck with needles as long as I don’t look at the needle while it’s going in. Weird, but it works.

Within a few minutes I started to feel a big groggy, but not sleepy. The dentist then numbed the roof of my mouth and the upper gum area. Since I couldn’t feel anything (thankfully), I couldn’t tell exactly what he was doing, but I sorta figured it out as he went along. He prepped the gum areas first and then removed the tissue from the roof of my mouth. He sutured the tissue into the gum line and wah-la, it was over.

What felt like about 20-30 minutes turned out to be about 90 minutes.

I was helped out to the car and home I went.

He gave me two prescriptions: one mild and one strong. He said to hold off on the strong one unless I really needed it.

I haven’t yet and I don’t think I will. I took two of the mild ones when I got home and one before I went to bed last night. He also suggested taking 2 Advils every fours hours and to go to the mild painkillers as needed.

I hate taking any kind of medicine, so I’ve opted for the Advil.

I’ll have to eat soft foods for 3-4 days and keep the stent in for that long as well. Once you get used to the thing, it’s too horribly bad, but it ain’t no day in the park, either. I was able to take it out this morning and clean it.

Brushing my teeth is a challenge since I can’t brush near the graft area until the dentist says it’s okay. Rinsing is also a challenge since it’s hard to spit without rubbing against the grafts.

I go back for a follow up on the 18th. Hopefully, the grafts will have taken. If they have, I’ll have to schedule the bottom teeth for later this year. That will take about 2.5 hours since there’s more teeth to cover.

2

Owwie! Sounds like you’re faring well given the circumstances. Here’s hoping that’s your’e feeling much better very soon.

Now, can I ask what condition or problem would require a gum graft? (if that’s not too personal)

3

Thanks. It’s not too bad. I hate the stent.

I have receding gums. In my case, it’s hereditary. Poor dental hygiene or overly aggressive brushing can cause this, too.

I have the bottom teeth to do and there may be other spots that will need to be fixed in the next 5-7 years.

4

Thanks. One of my New Year’s resolutions this year is better dental hygiene. I’ve been brushing and flossing and rinsing with Listerine twice a day religiously. Both my mom and my older sister have had gum surgery and I don’t really ever want to have to do that.

Good luck and speedy recovery to you.

5

Thanks for the kind words. For a while, I’m ashamed to say, my dental hygiene was not as good as it should have been. I’ve spent nearly $3000 in the past four years to fix things due to my own negligence. Luckily, I was able to get dental insurance last year (unfortunately, it was AFTER the major stuff has been done :smack: )

Don’t be afraid to have this sort of thing done, however.

I was nervous as hell, but I just steeled myself and did it.

Luckily for me, I’ve had no bad experiences (the one mentioned in the OP was the worst and it really wasn’t THAT bad :))

6

I misread the title as
“So, that’s what a gun graft is like”
That would be a very different thing.

7

Woah, I got my stent yesterday and have surgery scheduled for… um… as soon as I force myself to call and schedule it. Receeding gums here too, although it’s not genetics in my case but teeth not coming together in a perfect plane and the ever so slight wiggling is the cretin cause.

You must be some kinda badass. I told the periodontist that I wanted every kind of pain medicine he could spell. I’ve suffered through broken bones, shingles, bleeding ulcers, etc. with no complaint but mouth pain is simply the worst.

8

I can assure you, I’m no badass. I’ve been lucky, I guess. When I had a wisdom tooth cut out back '02, I only need one prescription pain pill and I was eating regular food in 3 days.

Oh, BTW, I f*cking hate this stent!!!

It took me 30 minutes to eat two scrambled eggs this morning! I still have THREE FRICKIN’ DAYS to wear it.

Og, give me strength.