Gum grafting vs. orthognathic surgery - what is worse?

[Guest guest]

I had both. I had 2 rounds of gum grafting before I had my braces

put on. These surgeries are nothing like jaw surgery. Yes you are

uncomfortable for a couple weeks, but they are not breaking your

bones, They are just dealing with soft tissue.

I had upper jaw surgery & genio this past October.

Email me if you want details.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

,

Do you know if these grafts are usually done before or after

orthodontics? My ortho told me we'll deal with my gums after the

surgery and the ortho treatment is complete, but I'm wondering if it

really makes a difference.

Irene.

>

> I had both. I had 2 rounds of gum grafting before I had my braces

> put on. These surgeries are nothing like jaw surgery. Yes you are

> uncomfortable for a couple weeks, but they are not breaking your

> bones, They are just dealing with soft tissue.

>

> I had upper jaw surgery & genio this past October.

>

> Email me if you want details.

>

> Regards,

>

[Guest guest]

Irene,

I had gum graft surgery before my orthodontics but I was in danger

of losing a few teeth. At the time the periodontist told me that my

gums would probably recede more as a result of the braces so I would

probably need more gum grafts after I was done with orthodontics. He

only did the areas that were absolutely necessary but pointed out a

few areas that would need it in the future. I'm still a long ways

from getting my braces off so I haven't addressed the issue lately.

The procedure itself was very easy compared to everything else. It

was done in the office with just a local and I went to work

immediately afterwards. My gums (and the roof of my mouth where they

scraped my palate) were a little sore for a few weeks but nothing

compared to the procedures I've had done since.

> >

> > I had both. I had 2 rounds of gum grafting before I had my

braces

> > put on. These surgeries are nothing like jaw surgery. Yes you

are

> > uncomfortable for a couple weeks, but they are not breaking your

> > bones, They are just dealing with soft tissue.

> >

> > I had upper jaw surgery & genio this past October.

> >

> > Email me if you want details.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

[Guest guest]

My ortho would NOT put my braces on until I had the gum surgery. In

addition, my surgeon wouldnt have done my jaw surgery without having

my gums in tip top shape. My gums were just too thin in two places

to support teeth with braces. So that was my situation, perhaps

yours is different? Let me know if you have any other questions.

Regards,

> >

> > I had both. I had 2 rounds of gum grafting before I had my

braces

> > put on. These surgeries are nothing like jaw surgery. Yes you

are

> > uncomfortable for a couple weeks, but they are not breaking your

> > bones, They are just dealing with soft tissue.

> >

> > I had upper jaw surgery & genio this past October.

> >

> > Email me if you want details.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

[Guest guest]

My ortho's opinion that bone, not gums support teeth, so is

mostly cosmetic unless your recession is up to the red thin part

of the gingiva. Further recession you may want to prevent. But the

graft only covers the recession and prevents it from further

progression. It is just " skin " , it does not support teeth.

Val

> > >

> > > I had both. I had 2 rounds of gum grafting before I had my

> braces

> > > put on. These surgeries are nothing like jaw surgery. Yes you

> are

> > > uncomfortable for a couple weeks, but they are not breaking

your

> > > bones, They are just dealing with soft tissue.

> > >

> > > I had upper jaw surgery & genio this past October.

> > >

> > > Email me if you want details.

> > >

> > > Regards,

> > >

[Guest guest]

Keep in mind that there are two different types of gum grafting. I

don't remember the exact names of the two so you may want to talk to

your periodontist about which you'll be receiving and the exact

details... from what I remember here is how the differences were

explained to me

The first type of graft is quick, easier and less painful to recover

from - appr 2-3 weeks or so I believe. It involves cutting a pocket

in your gum tissue, inserting the donor tissue (usually from the roof

of your mouth), inserting the donor tissue into the pocket, then

stretching your gum up and over the donor tissue and stitching it

into place (think of putting a hanky deep into your front pocket -

nothing is left out in the open.. it's buried in there to build up

bulk)

The other procedure takes 6-8 weeks to recover from and to put it

bluntly ,, it is gross and it's a little more painful. It involves

cutting a pocket in your existing gum tissue, and inserting the

bottom portion of the donor tissue into this pocket, and stitching it

in place (along the bottom). Then they use a superglue type of

substance to cover and help adhere the remaining donor tissue to your

teeth. (Think of it like a handkerchief inserted into a jacket

pocket,, with the top portion of the kerchief sticking out). The

gross part about this is not all of this tissue lives.... and as

it's dying, you get this absolutely horrible taste in your mouth,

especially upon waking up in the morning, your breath isn't the

greatest... and it's just *shudder* gross !!!

[Guest guest]

Val,

Sorry for the confusion in regards to my explanation. I do realize

the gums do not support teeth, but you do need healthy gums or you

will sufffer bone & tooth loss. Everything in the mouth is inter-

related.

In any case, I guess what I was trying to say is that BOTH my surgeon

& ortho would not begin my treatment until the grafting was done

first.

Either way, gum grafting & jaw surgery are both a pain the ass. I am

so glad I am in the last stretch of my treatment. My surgery was

back in October and I will be getting the braces off this summer,

hopefully at the end of June.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. For me, it was well worth

it.

[Guest guest]

I started this thread becouse in the past messages people stated

that gum grafts are much worse than the surgery (painwise, for

example). I had a Subepith connected tissue graft. I do not know

which category it falls into. There was not much gum left to pull

down, but there was no extra smell and after two weeks both donor

site and graft look well healed. What is the advantage of the

second one to put up with such gross additions?

Val

> Keep in mind that there are two different types of gum grafting. I

> don't remember the exact names of the two so you may want to talk

to

> your periodontist about which you'll be receiving and the exact

> details... from what I remember here is how the differences

were

> explained to me

>

> The first type of graft is quick, easier and less painful to

recover

> from - appr 2-3 weeks or so I believe. It involves cutting a

pocket

> in your gum tissue, inserting the donor tissue (usually from the

roof

> of your mouth), inserting the donor tissue into the pocket, then

> stretching your gum up and over the donor tissue and stitching it

> into place (think of putting a hanky deep into your front pocket -

> nothing is left out in the open.. it's buried in there to build up

> bulk)

>

> The other procedure takes 6-8 weeks to recover from and to put it

> bluntly ,, it is gross and it's a little more painful. It involves

> cutting a pocket in your existing gum tissue, and inserting the

> bottom portion of the donor tissue into this pocket, and stitching

it

> in place (along the bottom). Then they use a superglue type of

> substance to cover and help adhere the remaining donor tissue to

your

> teeth. (Think of it like a handkerchief inserted into a jacket

> pocket,, with the top portion of the kerchief sticking out). The

> gross part about this is not all of this tissue lives.... and as

> it's dying, you get this absolutely horrible taste in your mouth,

> especially upon waking up in the morning, your breath isn't the

> greatest... and it's just *shudder* gross !!!

[Guest guest]

Again, from my understanding, the second type is used for when there

is excessive recession, and/or movement of the teeth is needed.

> I started this thread becouse in the past messages people stated

> that gum grafts are much worse than the surgery (painwise, for

> example). I had a Subepith connected tissue graft. I do not know

> which category it falls into. There was not much gum left to pull

> down, but there was no extra smell and after two weeks both donor

> site and graft look well healed. What is the advantage of the

> second one to put up with such gross additions?

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry, couldn't see a way to edit my previous post. As far as the

pain is concerned, I don't have any idea which is worse since I

haven't had my ortho surgery yet.

As far as being uncomfortable, I'm betting it's the ortho though

> Again, from my understanding, the second type is used for when

there

> is excessive recession, and/or movement of the teeth is needed.