do I need a gum graft?
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Anonymous
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I feel like dentists are always trying to upsell me, so I’m skeptical. I recently went to a new one who sent me to a periodontist, who recommended a graft in 2 spots. I definitely have receding gums, probably from a lifetime of clenching at night (I’m 54). No gum disease, numbers mostly fine. No pain or discomfort other than occasional cold sensitivity. but he tells me the exposed root will cause some kind of problem.
anyone have one and think it was/wasn’t worth it? how did you know you needed it? should I wait until I”m in some sort of discomfort? Is the recovery as bad as it sounds? (several weeks of soft food?) |
Anonymous
| How does the dentist benefit financially from sending you to a periodontist? |
Anonymous
| need some pics here |
Anonymous
| My SIL is a periodontist and explained to me risk of receding gums. I got a graft. |
Anonymous
| My 18 yo needs a graft. The dentist who made the recommendation doesn’t profit because I’m paying a periodontist. The periodontist took a lot of time to explain the reasoning and in no way made me feel pressured. Now we just need to schedule it. |
Anonymous
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I was told I needed a graft almost 20 years ago and decided not to do it. So far no problems. Sister did have a gum graft years ago and recovery was difficult but I don't think she regrets it. SO, it can go either way.
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Anonymous
I wouldnt be surprised if they get paid a referral bonus, but also it was part of a lot of other things she thought I needed that she could do (like more frequent cleanings, which my insurance wont pay for, and special gum cleansing). I go to the dentist regularly, too, so it’s not like I went in after 5 years and had missed a bunch of stuff. |
Anonymous
Periodontal disease doesn’t care about your insurance coverage or that you had the typical biannual prophy. If the gingival tissue recedes far enough you can end up losing those teeth. The root structure weekends. That tissue is there for a reason. I have an area we have been watching for years. I’ve never heard of any referral bonuses. My dad was a general dentist for 50 years. My brother took over his practice. I have my teeth cleaned 3 times a year due to the way the plaque forms. Your teeth are incredibly important to downstream health. |
Anonymous
| Get it. It helps prevent bone loss. That comes in handy for implants. |
Anonymous
| Use donor tissue if possible, quicker recovery. Or at least, less painful. |
Anonymous
I had one and they used donor tissue. Recovery not bad at all. I also got an implant done on the same day (tooth had been missing for 10+years and the tooth next to the missing one needed the graph). Ending up taking off 1 day of work bc it was swollen but other than that nothing major. |
Anonymous
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You can always get a second opinion. Some surgeons will recommend operating on a site, while others will tell you that it can wait.
If your root is exposed, however, you should be able to see it for yourself. That definitely merits surgery. If you put off surgery for too long, you are at greater risk of tooth loss, which then leads to implant surgery or a bridge. |
Anonymous
An you share where you went, PP? |
Anonymous
Same. Dentists have been trying to upsell me with this for decades. I have no issues, so I've never fallen for it. OP, definitely get a second opinion. |
Anonymous
| I have receding gums too but they have been stable so dentist is not pushing the graft right now. You might ask if it is progressing or stable. |