Invisalign

If you want to know about gum grafts: The gum graft procedure is not very fun. It was recommended by my orthodontist before the braces could start. It is done in my understanding for one of two reasons: To cover an exposed tooth's root, or in my case because of thin gums. All three of the grafts i had done were around my canines. The two bottom and left top one are quite crooked and actually protrude more than other teeth. Before moving those teeth with braces the orthodontist wanted to make sure there was adequate gum coverage. So I was referred to a periodontist to perform the procedure. What they do (maybe skip down a few lines if you have a weak stomach) is use local anesthetic (freezing) then slice a small piece of tissue from your palette, make a few small incisions to the area receiving the graft, and then stitch the tissue on to that area. They then cover the area and the palette with a putty to protect it. All in about 45 minutes and you're ok to drive after that, Afterwards you can't eat solids for around 3 days, then only soft food until around day 7. Then after a week stitches are removed and a few days after that you are tender, but if you eat carefully you can eat pretty much anything. I had to wait two weeks after that before getting the next procedure done ( they only do one tooth at a time) and go through it all over again, and then again. It is not a very fun experience. You leave there thinking it's not so bad, next stop is the pharmacy, then the freezing wears off. You have to be careful not to touch your palette while brushing, eating, talking cause it hurts. The putty that they put on seemed to stay on the area around the tooth for the week until the stitches are removed, but the putty on your palette pretty much falls off right away or within a day. And that's when the fun begins. Try eating even liquids without it touching your palette. Not easy. And you feel it. Then once it starts getting a little better, you think you can eat boiled vegetables or semi-soft food , but if you don't chew it just right or a piece happens to hit that spot. Ouch. So anything that you can't completely mush up is out. Like meat. That was quite a process to chew. I had ibuprofen triple strength that I took every 4-6 hours. Peridex mouthwash, some Tylenol with codeine, then this viscous liquid that I could apply to the palette ( think had some form of cocaine in it) to numb the palette. That you apply then spit out. The first time was the worst, ( I think the slice in the palette was a little too deep) but each time I had to keep taking Advil every 4-6 hours even through my sleep for about a week. I noticed that acidic foods were more painful. Coffee (even cold) hurt, but I fought through that. I thought bananas would be good, but nope. Acidic? I don't know. Pasta sauce hurt. I thought fruit smoothies would be good, but nope that hurt too. Anything that could not easily be chewed down to a total mush. Like I mentioned meat was dangerous. I had a lot of boost, then I noticed it was more about food you could completely chew up before swallowing. Bread, cake, doughy stuff, ice cream yogurt, boost. Pretty much nothing really nutritious. I'm pretty sure I lost weight and definitely felt run down from not eating well and restless sleeps. But it's only for about 7-8 days. I found the best thing to do was bring a toothbrush and mouthwash with me everywhere for that week, and use it after eating anything, but also when you get any plaque in your mouth. Keep your mouth clean. At night I would wake up in pain. But I found keeping it clean by brushing (gently) and mouthwash was equally as important as any painkiller. I had my wisdom teeth on the bottom removed 6 days ago, but after the grafts that was a breeze. I stopped taking painkillers (I had oxycotone!) for the wisdom teeth after day 2. Mind you I think it was a pretty simple procedure they were completely out and I think came out in one piece. I think. I was pretty out of it when I left that place. I don't mean to scare anybody off of getting it done if you need it done. It's only a week. I took the day off the day of the procedure and was back to work the next, with a few extra bathroom breaks to spit blood and clean my mouth. If I were to do it again I would ask the periodontist or dentist for a little extra putty to take home, or something similar they would recommend to cover the palette area. But it seems pretty hard to get anything to stick to your palette that will actually stay. If you need it done good luck, I'm sure you'll really enjoy that carrot on day 8-9.

Oh god :(.  I just have some exposed roots--a few--and it's ugly.  But that sounds heinous.  I haven't even managed to get my wisdom teeth extracted yet because I have to go to an oral surgeon (my dentist said they're impacted or something) and I'm afraid.  I managed to go through a full mommy makeover without any trouble, (lots of pain but no fear), but ask me to get wisdom teeth out, forget about it.  And this grafting thing sounds heinous.  I can fast for three days, but a week is more than I can manage, and I can't eat any of the things on the list of stuff you ate.  Like, basically ground-up tofu would be it.  Suckage.

Thanks for the information, though--a lot to think about!

My daughter has a very small lower jaw and a big overbite, so I'm kind of obsessed about orthognathic surgery.  We just have so few people here on RealSelf reviewing about it.  I'm trying to get more people but it is difficult!  

It's a pain but I wouldn't be that worried it's really not that bad. You can still eat other stuff but carefully. I definitely didn't fast for a week. After 3 days you're onto solid-ish foods again, you just can't exactly savor them. Good luck.

Hi. I found this info on your gum graft very helpful as I am suppose to have one on my lower tooth. The periodontist wants to do a frenulectomy first which is actually being done on 4/15 and then the graft in two months. You're review only confirmed my fears though...the pain of it all.