Introducing In Office Healing Stents for Gum Grafting

Let's face it—hearing that you need a "gum graft" probably isn't the news you were hoping for at your dental visit. If just the thought of it makes you feel a little nervous, we completely understand. Dental anxiety is incredibly common, and your comfort is always our top priority. That is exactly why our team is constantly looking for new ways to make your experience as stress-free and pain-free as possible.

Today, we are thrilled to share some wonderful news about a new advancement we are offering that makes the gum grafting process—and specifically your recovery—much smoother and more comfortable!

Introducing In Office Healing Stents. During a traditional gum graft (also known as CTG or FGG procedures), we gently take a small piece of tissue from the roof of your mouth (the palate) to help restore your gum line where it has receded. To protect the roof of your mouth while it heals, we use something called a "healing stent." You can think of it like a custom-fit, protective bandage for the roof of your mouth.

The process uses a zinc-infused, thermoplastic material designed for soft tissue grafting to protect the palate (the roof of your mouth where we take the graft). The company that we work with offers a material to make the stents that is biocompatible and bacteriostatic hydroplastic polymer infused with zinc ions, which aids in healing and acts as a sealant.

No Messy Impressions, No Extra Visits In the past, getting this stent meant you had to come in for an extra appointment before your surgery so we could take impressions of your mouth. For many patients, that meant dealing with gooey, uncomfortable impression material.

We are excited to announce that we now offer a remarkable alternative: a state-of-the-art healing stent that can be made right here in our office on the exact same day as your surgery! That means absolutely no gooey impressions and one less trip to our office for you. Even better? The cost to you stays exactly the same as the old method.

The Healing Power of Zinc So, what makes this new stent so special? The magic is in the material. Instead of a traditional hard plastic, this new stent uses a special, flexible material infused with zinc. You might already know that zinc is great for your overall immune system, but it also has amazing healing properties for your mouth.

This material acts as a tight, soothing sealant over the roof of your mouth. It is completely safe for your body and naturally fights off bacteria, protecting the area while actively speeding up your healing process.

Fewer Stitches, More Comfort Here is the bonus that our patients love the most: because this new stent seals the area so well, it can often completely replace the need for stitches (sutures) in the roof of your mouth!

Because this zinc-infused stent is incredibly thin and molds perfectly to your unique smile, it significantly minimizes post-operative pain. You won't have to worry about a bulky appliance getting in the way of your life. It is designed to allow you to eat comfortably, speak normally, and rest easy while your mouth does the important work of healing.

We Are Here for You We know that any surgical procedure can feel intimidating, but you don't have to navigate it alone. If you have been putting off a gum graft because you are worried about the recovery, or if you just have questions about how this new healing stent works, please give our office a call. We are here to hold your hand through the entire process and get you back to a healthy, confident smile!