Dr. Sarna utilizes connective tissue graft for those patients that need to protect their teeth from the damaging effects of gum disease or those patients seeking to improve the appearance of their smile. Connective tissue graft is a form of gum surgery, but don’t panic, gum surgery sounds much worse than it is.

Gum recession is the process in which the tissue that surrounds the teeth pulls away from your tooth, exposing more of the tooth or the tooth’s root. This can cause damage to supporting bone. Gum recession is a common dental problem affecting up to 12% of adults and often goes unnoticed until it becomes more severe.

Many people don’t even notice that their gums have receded, because it is a gradual process. However, over time, an exposed tooth root can not only look ugly, but can cause tooth sensitivity, especially when eating cold or hot foods. Eventually, gum recession, if not treated, can cause tooth loss. To repair the damage and prevent further dental problems, Dr. Sarna may perform a connective tissue graft.

A connective tissue graft is the most common method used to treat root exposure. During the procedure, a minimal amount of tissue from somewhere else in your mouth is basically removed and transferred to the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root of your affected tooth.