Ideally a dentist placing a dental implant would want approximately 2mm of keratinized gingiva before placing the implant. This is important in order to ensure the tissue levels remain viable for the dental implant even when there is inflammation. Gingival grafting can be important in increasing the height and width of the tissue and ensuring that the dental implants don’t fail.
If there isn’t enough tissue at the proposed site of the implant, here are grafting options that are available to the patient:
- Connective tissue grafting
- Free gingival grafting
- Pedicle graft
While patients may be hesitant about discomfort at the donor site, there are a couple of things that can make gingival grafting patients more comfortable:
Stent for gingival grafting
A stent for gingival grafting looks like a retainer but acts as a shield to protect the donor site, improving patient comfort. After two weeks, a patient may discard it, as the donor site heals.
Avitene™ or other absorbable collagen hemostat
An absorbable collagen hemostat such at Avitene can make sure that the bleeding is under control at the donor site in order to increase patient comfort.
If these measures are not enough to assure the patient, then synthetic materials may be used in order to try and build up tissue at the dental implant site.
If you are looking for a periodontist near Worcester for gingival grafting and/or implant placement, we urge you to contact Worcester Periodontics.