Shallow ulcer with a white or yellow center and red border seen on the inner side of the lip and cheeks or on the tongue it begins with a burning or tingling. Domestic animals are often afflicted with various skin problems, some easy to cure others more complicated, and some even highly contagious to the human handlers. Gum Graft Surgery Survival Tips. This site generates income via partnerships with carefully curated travel and lifestyle brands andor purchases made through links to them. I just had gum graft surgery also called gingival graft surgery for receding gums surrounding two of my back teeth. I didnt realize how common the procedure is until I started talking about it. Most people delay gum graft surgery, probably because there are people online describing it as pain worse than childbirth. I disagree. If you have a good surgeon, you will be fine. What Is Gum Graft SurgeryThis site was created by dermatologists to benefit patients. We have the most comprehensive information on skin diseases available online. If your gums are receding due to orthodontia, over brushing, genetics or bad luck, youre likely to need a gum graft. I wish I hadnt watched the presentation outlining the procedure as I would have been OK not knowing the details. Basically, they cut tissue off the roof of your mouth the donor area, cut the gums off around your teeth, peel them down, stitch the donor tissue on and then stitch the gum tissue back over that. ShiverIve Had Gum Graft Surgery So Heres What Id Suggest. Installing Oracle Adi On Windows 7. Upgrade Your Drugs. I was given the option of being awake but numb, being consciously sedated with a drug called Halcion, or an IV drip that would knock me completely under. I still had awesome expatriate insurance, but I hear that in the US, the latter two options are not considered customary or reasonable by some US insurance companies, therefore, these gum graft surgery costs might not be covered. Halcion was a 2. The IV sedation was 5. I was told the IV was totally not necessary reserved for people with extreme dental fears, and in the end I agree. With Halcion and a Valium topper, explained below, I had zero concept of time so if they had done my whole mouth, I would not have been the wiser. Go over your options with your Periodontist and get really comfortable with them. Get The Modern Gum Graft Surgery. The modern version allows for the roof of your mouth to be stitched whereas the old school version left the donor site as a gaping hole. Ouch. I dont like to look at stitches so I didnt look, but was told there were about 1. Get A Stent To Help Prevent Bleeding. This was another optional upgrade. My stent was like a retainer that covered most of the roof of my mouth. It puts pressure on the donor area to help prevent bleeding, your tongue from playing with the stitches, and food from getting caught in them. I wore it until my stitches were out and afterward for a few days, only while eating. The newly stitch free area was tender. Bring Your i. Pod. It was very helpful to listen to some music during the procedure. To be honest, I dont remember it much but I took comfort in knowing that my earbuds were in. Have Someone Else Also Listen To Post Care Instructions. I dont remember them, because some were given after the gingival graft surgery when I was out if it. And, I was out of it at home for a while. Plus, whoever is taking care of you is going to need to know what to do. Eat Totally Pulverized Food For The First Few Days. Even small vegetable chunks in soups might be hard to deal with the first day or so. You need to get comfortable with your post surgery mouth and a random chunk getting into that area is freaky. I ate soup like a dog at first, ladling it into my mouth with the spoon upside down on my tongue and then hoisting it into the back of my mouth to swallow. I drank a ton of smoothies. Plan Nothing For About 3 Days After Gum Graft Surgery. Youll eat less and, therefore, may feel weak. Eat a bunch of liquid meals throughout the day. When I made higher calorie and protein filled shakes, I felt noticeably better all around. Also, if you are in pain, you may need to take a stronger pain killer like Vicodin. Obviously, you will not be able to work or care for children in that circumstance. Speaking of prescription medicines, I also took an antibiotic and used an antiseptic mouthwash. Pain During Gum Graft Surgery. I had zero. The Halcion also has a slight amnesia effect. However, 4. 0 minutes after I took the Halcion its in pill form, I felt only a little tired. The surgeons assistant seemed  surprised and asked if I felt OK enough to have gum graft surgery. I said, no way. She consulted the Periodontist, gave me some Valium, and then all was fabulous. I felt little pinches when they numbed the roof of my mouth and cheek, but that was it. There were also no loud grinding noises, except for once when it felt like the surgeon was scraping my teeth. I was so chill, I did not care. Pain After The Gum Graft. I do not consider myself to have a sky high tolerance for pain, but found it to be pretty manageable. It might be because I was expecting much worse. Dont try to be a hero. Take the pain medicine. That sensation of eating a piece of pizza with cheese thats much too hot, is what youll feel on the roof of your mouth sometimes. I was also sore where they inserted the numbing Novocaine injections on the inside of my mouth. My lips were a little bruised and so was the side of my face. Anyway, the consequences of delaying gum graft surgery are much worse than the actual procedure. I had my stitches removed 8 days after the surgery, and the area looked almost completely back to normal. I might need another gum graft on the other side of my mouth where gum receding looks to be occurring again, but next time I wont be nearly as anxious. Happy to answer questions if you have them. Of course, Im not a doctor, so consult yours first. Photo credit istockphotonyul.