Gum Grafting in Oxford
A sip of iced tea makes you wince. You notice one tooth looks longer than the others, and brushing that spot feels tender. For many of our Oxford patients, that's the first sign that gum tissue has pulled away from the tooth and left the root exposed. Gum recession rarely reverses on its own, and once the root is uncovered, it stays vulnerable to sensitivity, decay, and further tissue loss. Gum grafting is the procedure we use to rebuild that lost tissue, protect the root, and give the tooth a stable, healthy foundation again.
Gum grafting replaces missing gum tissue around a tooth or teeth where recession has taken hold. We place tissue over the exposed root, secure it, and allow it to integrate with the surrounding gums. As healing progresses, the new tissue thickens the gum line, covers the root surface, and restores a more even, natural appearance.
Recession happens for a range of reasons. Aggressive brushing, grinding and clenching, genetics, tooth position, and periodontal disease can all wear gum tissue down over time. Some of our Oxford patients come in because sensitivity has become hard to ignore. Others notice the cosmetic change first, especially in the front of the mouth where an uneven gum line is visible when they smile. Both are legitimate reasons to treat it, and both are addressed by the same procedure.
Because our practice handles periodontics in house, we can evaluate recession alongside everything else happening in your mouth. If gum disease is driving the recession, we treat that first with scaling and root planing or other periodontal care. If a missing tooth, a crown, or a bite problem is part of the picture, we can address those too, with restorative, implant, and TMJ care all under one roof.
You may be a candidate for gum grafting if you have visible root exposure, persistent sensitivity to hot and cold, notching or wear at the gum line, or gum tissue that is thin enough to be at risk of further loss. We also recommend it in some cases before or alongside other treatment, such as orthodontics or restorative work, when thin tissue would otherwise be likely to recede further.
The benefits our Oxford patients care about most tend to fall into a few clear categories:
- Reduced sensitivity to cold drinks, hot foods, and air
- Protection of the exposed root from decay and continued wear
- A more even, natural-looking gum line
- Better long-term support for the tooth and the bone around it
- Easier, more comfortable brushing and flossing in the treated area
Not every case of mild recession needs surgery. Part of our evaluation is telling you honestly when watchful monitoring and a change in brushing technique is the better path, and when grafting is the right move to stop the problem from progressing.
What the Procedure and Recovery Look Like
We start with an exam and imaging to measure how much tissue has been lost and to check the health of the bone underneath. From there we explain the graft technique we recommend and what it will involve for your specific teeth. You will know the plan before anything is scheduled.
On the day of treatment, the area is thoroughly numbed. We place the graft tissue over the exposed root, secure it in position, and protect the site. The appointment is a surgical procedure, but it is a routine one in our office. For patients who feel anxious, we offer nitrous oxide sedation and oral sedation so the visit is calm and manageable.
Aftercare is straightforward and matters a great deal to the result. We ask you to eat soft foods for a period, avoid brushing or flossing directly over the graft until we clear you, and skip anything that pulls or disturbs the site. We provide specific instructions, including how to manage soreness and swelling, and we schedule a follow-up to check healing. Most patients return to normal routines quickly, with the treated area needing extra care for a few weeks. Afterward, periodontal maintenance visits help keep the new tissue healthy.
Scheduling, Insurance, and Payment for Oxford Patients
We have cared for families in and around Ocala for more than 30 years, and Oxford is one of the communities we regularly serve. Dr. Hussein Salifu and Dr. Marco Geris see patients of all ages, and we accept periodontal patients without a referral, so you can call us directly rather than waiting on paperwork from another office.
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and self-pay patients, and we offer flexible payment plans. Before treatment, we review what your coverage is expected to handle and what your portion looks like, so there are no surprises. If you have sensitivity or visible recession, call us to schedule an evaluation and we will tell you exactly where things stand.