Soft Tissue Grafting in Princeton and Flemington, NJ
Restoring and Protecting Your Gum Line
A healthy gum line is essential not only for an attractive smile but also for the long-term health of your teeth. Soft tissue grafting, also known as gum grafting, is a delicate surgical procedure designed to treat gum recession and cover exposed tooth roots.
At West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery, our board-certified oral surgeons perform this procedure to protect your teeth from damage, reduce sensitivity, and restore the natural, healthy appearance of your smile.
Why is Gum Recession a Concern?
When the gums recede, the root of the tooth becomes exposed. This can lead to a number of significant oral health and cosmetic issues, including:
- An Unattractive Appearance: Receding gums can make teeth appear unnaturally long and create an uneven gum line.
- Root Sensitivity: Exposed tooth roots are not protected by enamel and are often very sensitive to hot, cold, or sweet foods and drinks.
- Loss of Supporting Bone: Gum recession is often associated with the loss of the underlying jaw bone that supports the teeth.
- Root Cavitation: The exposed root surfaces are softer than enamel, making them much more susceptible to decay and notching at the gum line.
- Eventual Tooth Loss: If left untreated, progressive gum recession and bone loss can ultimately lead to the loss of the tooth.
The Soft Tissue Grafting Procedure
The goal of a gum graft is to cover the exposed tooth root with healthy, stable tissue. This is typically accomplished by taking a small, thin piece of tissue from the roof of the mouth (the palate) and carefully placing it over the area of recession. In some cases, tissue from a sterile, FDA-regulated tissue bank can be used instead. The procedure is performed with precision in our office and is made completely comfortable with the use of local anesthesia or sedation.
What are the Benefits of a Gum Graft?
Halts Further Recession
A graft covers the exposed root and reinforces thin tissue, preventing the gums from receding further and protecting the underlying jaw bone from additional loss.
Reduces Sensitivity
By covering the exposed root surface, a gum graft provides a new layer of protection that can significantly reduce or eliminate painful sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet stimuli.
Improves Aesthetics
The procedure restores a more natural and even gum line, eliminating the "long tooth" appearance and creating a healthier, more attractive smile.
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Soft Tissue Grafting and other procedures.
"Hi, I'm Adam, and I'm from Lambertville, and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery for wisdom teeth removal and a gum graft. The staff was bubbly, energetic, and there to support you. The doctors here are absolutely amazing. They make you feel comfortable, always there to answer questions. Great bedside manners. My procedure went great for both of them. It was probably a day or two recovery, and I was back in action. My quality of life has definitely improved when I have a good smile, makes me more confident meeting other people. Overall experience here was great. I would a hundred percent recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I'm Bill from Flemington, and I came to West Jersey Oral Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery for several extractions and dental implants. When I first came into the practice, it felt very welcoming, warm—people were very friendly. The staff here, very professional. The doctor was very empathetic, fully explained what was gonna happen, and during the procedures, actually kept me up to date on what he was doing. The procedures I had done, the extractions as well as the implants, went extremely well. My experience was nurturing, caring. To all my friends in Somerset County, Flemington, and Somerville, I highly recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I am Bill. I'm from Fort Good River and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery for a dental implant. When I first walked into the practice, I was greeted very warmly. Everyone was very nice to me. The staff was very attentive, and my doctor was very informative, went over everything that he was going to do, made sure that I didn't have any questions, and that I was very comfortable. My procedure went very well. My quality of life has improved because I can actually chew as if it was my original tooth. My overall experience was very good. I would absolutely recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to anyone who is really interested in having a good outcome."
"Hi, I'm Gabby from Califon and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to have my wisdom teeth removed. When I first walked into this practice, I felt super at ease. There were lots of smiles and friendly faces. It was a great place to be. My doctor was super nice, and when he walked in the room, he introduced himself with the biggest smile on his face, and he told me about the procedure and just really put me at ease. The procedure went so well, and the recovery was easy and smooth. I'm so happy to have a healthy smile. To all my friends and family in Somerset County, Flemington and Somerville. I highly recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I'm Jimmy from Lebanon Township and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to have my wisdom teeth removed. When I first walked into this practice, I felt at home. Everybody was welcoming, greeted me with smiles and good customer service. Everybody was charismatic and caring. My doctor was very professional, super friendly, and put me at ease before my procedure and answered any questions I had brought to him. My procedure went well. I had practically no time between me finishing my procedure and when I was able to get back to work. Having a healthy smile is really important to me. Out of five stars, I would rate this practice five stars. I would highly recommend people to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery."
"Hi, I'm Kait from Madison, and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery for an implant. When I first walked in, I just felt incredibly welcome and at ease. The staff was really accommodating. My doctor is incredibly kind, very open-minded, and empathetic. My procedures went very well. After the procedures, I am very happy. I feel a lot more confident about my smile and ultimately just feel really happy that I have a care team that I know I can rely on. I would happily recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery to friends, family that just really put you at the front as the patient, and it's an excellent experience."
"Hi, I'm Karen from Readington. I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery for a dental implant. When I first walked into the practice, I felt very comfortable. Everybody was welcoming, and they reassured me that everything was going to be fine. My doctor was very good. He explained everything to me, the procedure that was going to be done. He also just made sure I was comfortable. My procedure went very well. The overall experience of this practice was fantastic. It was very important to me to have a healthy smile. I would highly recommend this practice to anybody."
"Hi, I'm Lianna from Lambertville, and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery for an extraction, bone graft, and dental implant. The staff is extremely friendly and comforting and made me feel at ease. My doctor was extremely careful and caring. He was very gentle and made sure that I was feeling comfortable. My procedures went very well, and recovery was very smooth. My overall experience with this practice was extremely positive. I would absolutely recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Surgery. I felt very welcomed and comfortable going into the multiple surgeries that I was going to have."
"Hi. I am Luke from Phillipsburg, and I came to West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery for an extraction. The doctors here were great. They made me feel comfortable. They were easy to talk to, they're real friendly. My procedure went great. It was quick. It was easy, and the recovery was simple. My overall experience here was fantastic. To all my friends and family in Somerset County, Flemington and Somerville. I highly recommend West Jersey Oral, Maxillofacial, & Dental Implant Surgery."
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule Your Consultation
The first step toward resolving your oral health concerns is a personal consultation with one of our board-certified oral surgeons. Contact our Princeton or Flemington office today to schedule your appointment with our expert team and experience our compassionate, patient-first approach to care.