I had gum graft surgery 3 weeks ago today… let’s talk about it.
For starters here’s some basic information about me. Hi, I’m Cassidy and I’m 27 years old. Prior to my gum graft surgery, I had braces for 3.5 years, 2 oral surgeries, and no gum disease. The dentist wasn’t sure what caused my recession. I had healthy gums just not enough.
It can be scary when you find out you’ll be needing surgery. I searched the internet high and low looking for anything. I wanted to hear other people’s stories, get tips for before and after surgery, and in general I just wanted some more information. I was not able to find anything, so I hope this helps someone out there who’s terrified and just wanting a little direction.
The Consultation
I met with my periodontist for a consultation at the beginning of 2024. The consultation was a breeze, and the plan was simple. They would be taking tissue off the roof of my mouth and sewing it to my bottom front 4 teeth. They would also be bulking up the entire bottom of my teeth because it was so thin.
The Surgery
A couple of months later, it was time for my surgery and while I was super nervous my periodontist made sure I was comfortable. I was prescribed anxiety medication the night before and the morning of surgery. Once at the office they gave me pillows and blankets hooked me up to monitors, gave me laughing gas, and hooked me up to an IV that would make me go to sleep and not remember a thing.
The Recovery
Recovery was hard the first five days. The days were long. The feeling of hunger and pain took over. I remember thinking I wasn’t sure how I was going to last two whole weeks to my follow up appointment. I wasn’t allowed to talk, smile, laugh, or do any physical activity. By day eight I felt a lot better, and my spirits were improving. The pain was manageable and I was excited for my follow up appointment and to be cleared to return to normal life.
The Follow-Up
My follow up appointment came. It was time to get my stitches removed. Don’t just assume your follow-up appointment will be a breeze, because I had no idea the pain that was awaiting me once I got there.
I was taken back they told me that it all looked good and then they started removing stitches. I tried my best to hold it together, but the pain was so unbearable I was shaking and sweating uncontrollably, and tears were pouring from my tightly shut eyes. The good news was that I was healing great, but it was a pain that was worse than the surgery itself.
Present Day
I am currently scheduled for another follow up appointment in 2 weeks. My graft site looks good, and everything seems to be continuing to heal very nicely. One thing they don’t tell you is that recovery is not just 2 weeks it’s a yearlong process. My graft will continue to change over the next year, and I will update the blog as the healing journey continues.
If you enjoyed this or you’re interested in my tips for surgery go check out my other blog which will be coming soon “Gum Graft Surgery Tips”