Soft Tissue "Gum" Graft

Soft tissue “gum” grafting surgery may be necessary when you have lost gum tissue or recession after periodontal disease or for any other reason. When this occurs, patients may experience root exposure and/or sensitivity. Connective tissue grafts are the most common type of grafting procedures to treat exposed root surfaces.

Dr. Salzberg performs three main types of gum grafting procedures. Minimally invasive subepithelial tissue graft (MIST graft), Free Gingival Graft (FGG), and Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique™ (PST). During your consultation with Dr. Salzberg, she will recommend the procedure that is most appropriate for your situation.

Minimally Invasive Subepithelial Tissue Graft (MIST)

This procedure is minimally invasive because only a single incision is made in the palate and is sutured closed. The tissue in the area of recession is prepared to allow the donor tissue from the palate to be placed inside the gum tissue.

Because no incisions are made in the area of recession, there is no scarring. This procedure enables us to predictably thicken the tissues with exact color match to cover the previously exposed root surface.

Free Gingival Graft (FGG)

A free gingival graft may be necessary where the donor tissue is obtained from the roof of the mouth and then transplanted to the area around the tooth with recession. The gingival graft procedure is most often used when the gums are thin and need additional tissue to thicken them to create a healthy band of tissue around the tooth or teeth. This newly thickened tissue covers the exposed root surface and will be more resistant to future recession.

The Chao Pinhole ® Surgical Technique™ (PST)

The Chao Pinhole ® Surgical Technique™ (PST) is a minimally-invasive alternative to gum grafting surgery and can be very effective for restoring the gum line in a single visit. This procedure involves loosening some of the gum tissue above the areas with gum recession to recreate the gum line. It is a scalpel-free, suture-free procedure which does not involve using patient’s own tissue from the roof of the mouth. Therefore, recovery is faster with fewer post-surgical discomforts.