Tissue Grafts
At Pelican Dental in Redondo Beach, CA, we provide advanced gum treatments, including tissue grafting, root coverage, and frenectomy procedures, to help restore gum health and protect your smile. Our team also includes a board-certified periodontist, providing specialized expertise in treating the gums and supporting structures around your teeth.
If you have noticed gum recession, exposed tooth roots, sensitivity, or concerns involving the frenum, schedule a consultation at Pelican Dental to learn more about your treatment options.
A Comprehensive Office and Plan for Tissue Grafts
We incorporate advanced dental technology into our care, including the Fotona LightWalker laser, which can be used for both soft- and hard-tissue dental treatments, including gum surgery and cavity treatment. Our office also uses an iTero intraoral scanner and cone beam CT imaging to assist with comprehensive evaluation and treatment planning when appropriate.
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What Are Tissue Grafts?
Tissue grafting is a procedure used to replace or restore gum tissue in areas where it has receded or been lost, especially in the gums. Gum recession may develop for a variety of reasons, including periodontal concerns, trauma, or aggressive brushing.
When healthy gum tissue pulls away from a tooth, more of the tooth or its root may become exposed. This can make a tooth appear longer than the surrounding teeth and may also contribute to sensitivity. Because tooth roots do not have the same protective enamel covering as the visible crowns of your teeth, maintaining healthy gum coverage is important.
Tissue grafting can add support and coverage to areas where gum tissue is thin or has receded. Depending on the patient’s needs, treatment may focus on protecting an exposed root, rebuilding the gumline, supporting periodontal health, or improving the appearance of the smile.
At Pelican Dental, we offer root coverage and tissue grafting as part of our comprehensive approach to dental care.
Root Coverage and Tissue Graft Benefits
Tissue grafting can serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. Most importantly, healthy gum tissue helps protect the vulnerable root surfaces of your teeth.
Potential benefits of tissue grafting include:
Protects Exposed Roots
Restoring tissue around an exposed root provides additional coverage and protection.
Helps Reduce Sensitivity
Covering exposed root surfaces may decrease sensitivity caused by gum recession.
Supports the Gumline
Adding tissue to thin or recessed areas can provide additional support around the teeth.
Enhances Appearance
Root coverage can help create a more even and balanced-looking gumline.
Supports Tooth Health
Protecting exposed roots can help reduce their vulnerability to decay and other dental concerns.
Every patient’s gums are different, which is why we recommend an evaluation before deciding whether tissue grafting is the right solution.
Gum Grafts at Pelican Dental
A gum graft is a type of tissue grafting procedure used to restore gum tissue where recession or thinning has left part of a tooth root exposed or without adequate soft-tissue support.
Think of healthy gums as a protective border around your teeth. When that border begins to recede, the root surface underneath can become exposed. Gum grafting adds tissue to the affected area to help rebuild that protective coverage.
Patients may consider gum grafting because of visible recession, tooth sensitivity, exposed roots, thin gum tissue, or concerns about the appearance of their gumline.
Depending on your individual needs, gum grafting may help:
- Cover and protect exposed tooth roots
- Add support to areas with thin gum tissue
- Reduce sensitivity associated with root exposure
- Improve the balance and appearance of the gumline
- Support the long-term health of the affected teeth and surrounding tissues
Because there are different ways to approach gum grafting, treatment should be personalized to the patient. At Pelican Dental, we evaluate the health of the tooth, amount of recession, existing gum tissue, and surrounding oral structures before recommending care.
Our practice provides root coverage and tissue grafting, and our team includes a board-certified periodontist. If gum grafting is recommended, we will explain the proposed treatment and what you can expect before moving forward.
For patients who want to learn more specifically about treating gum recession and exposed roots, visit our dedicated Gum Grafts service page for additional information about the procedure, benefits, and recovery.
Frenectomy with Laser Technology
Tissue treatment at Pelican Dental isn’t limited to gum grafting. We also provide frenectomy procedures.
The frenum is a small fold or band of tissue that connects areas of the lips, tongue, or cheeks to nearby oral tissues. In some patients, the position or restriction of this tissue may contribute to oral concerns.
A frenectomy involves releasing or reshaping the frenum when treatment is appropriate.
At Pelican Dental, we have the Fotona LightWalker available for soft-tissue dental treatment. The precision of laser technology makes it a valuable tool for appropriate gum and soft-tissue procedures.
Benefits of a Laser Frenectomy
Using advanced laser technology for soft-tissue treatment can offer several advantages. Because the laser can precisely target tissue, it allows our dental team to work carefully in a small area.
Benefits may include:
Your dentist will determine whether laser treatment is appropriate based on your specific needs.
Why We Use the Fotona LightWalker Laser
Pelican Dental uses the Fotona LightWalker, an advanced dental laser system capable of treating both soft and hard tissues.
Soft tissue includes areas such as the gums, while hard tissue includes structures such as teeth. At our office, the Fotona LightWalker can be used for gum surgery as well as cavity treatment.
For appropriate soft-tissue procedures, laser dentistry provides our doctors with an additional tool for performing precise treatment while minimizing unnecessary impact on surrounding tissues.
The Fotona LightWalker is only one part of the advanced technology available at our Redondo Beach dental office.
Pelican Dental also uses:
iTero Intraoral Scanner
Digital scanning allows our team to capture detailed images of your teeth and oral structures. This can help with evaluation and treatment planning without relying solely on traditional impressions.
Cone Beam CT Imaging
Cone beam CT technology provides three-dimensional images of the teeth, bone, and surrounding structures, giving our doctors additional information when detailed imaging is appropriate.
Fotona LightWalker
Our dental laser can be used for both soft- and hard-tissue procedures, including gum surgery and cavity treatment.
The specific technology used during your care will depend on your individual treatment needs.
What to Expect During a Tissue Graft Consultation
If you are worried about gum recession or another soft-tissue concern, your first step is an evaluation.
During your consultation at Pelican Dental, we can examine your gums, teeth, and surrounding structures to better understand the issue. We may look at how much gum tissue is present, whether roots have become exposed, and the overall health of the affected teeth.
We will also want to hear from you. Let us know if you have noticed sensitivity, changes in the appearance of your gumline, or other symptoms.
Based on our findings, we can determine whether tissue grafting, root coverage, frenectomy, or another treatment is appropriate.
Are You a Candidate for Tissue Grafting?
Not every patient with a change in their gumline will need a tissue graft. A professional evaluation allows us to determine whether additional tissue coverage or support could benefit your smile.
You may be a candidate for tissue grafting if you experience:
You may also benefit from an evaluation if you have concerns related to your frenum. If you are unsure whether your symptoms require treatment, give Pelican Dental a call. We can examine the area and help you better understand your options.
Caring for Your Smile After Soft-Tissue Treatment
After a tissue graft or other soft-tissue procedure, protecting the treatment area is important while your mouth heals. Your Pelican Dental team will provide personalized instructions based on the treatment you receive.
General recommendations may include:
- Protect the Treatment Area: Avoid touching or unnecessarily disturbing healing tissue.
- Modify Brushing Temporarily: You may receive instructions for carefully cleaning your mouth without irritating the treated area.
- Choose Comfortable Foods: Softer foods may be recommended during the initial healing period.
- Follow your Instructions: Take medications and use any recommended oral care products exactly as directed.
- Keep Follow-up Appointments: Follow-up visits allow us to monitor healing and make sure the area is progressing as expected.
Once healing is complete, consistent brushing, flossing, professional cleanings, and routine dental examinations remain important for maintaining healthy gums.
Why Choose Pelican Dental for Tissue Grafting?
Treating the gums requires an understanding of how soft tissue works together with the teeth and other supporting structures. At Pelican Dental in Redondo Beach, we combine periodontal expertise with advanced technology and individualized care.
Here are a few reasons patients choose our office for tissue grafting and gum care:
Our goal is to help you understand your oral health and feel confident about the treatment recommended for you.
Restore and Protect Your Gumline at Pelican Dental
Your gums are an important part of a healthy, comfortable, and attractive smile. If gum recession, exposed tooth roots, thin gum tissue, or frenum concerns are affecting your oral health, you don’t have to simply live with the changes.
At Pelican Dental in Redondo Beach, CA, we offer tissue grafting, root coverage, and frenectomy procedures as part of our comprehensive approach to dental care. Call Pelican Dental or schedule a consultation at our Redondo Beach office today to learn more about tissue grafting and protecting the health of your smile.
