Back in September I had a cleaning and the dentist over David suggested that I had some gum recession that should be looked at - a possible frenum or gum graft or something to help with the gum loss. I've always had it mentioned at cleanings usually. (thanks genetics and dad haha!) We made an appt in December to see Dr Okano, a periodontist (gum specialist) ---- and he did suggest that the gum down at the bottom front teeth area is VERY thin. Not as much worried about the lowering of the gums, but the thinness - my bone is very exposed and needs more gum. So, after hoping I was still free cost with the school - yes... We signed me up for a possible $2k procedure for free in early January. I heard it was bad, so I was pretty afraid.
Jan 7 2016
This date came sooner than I wanted, but better get it over with right? And so glad David was there to assist. Ummm, yeah I'm a not as supportive wife as I could have been. I was the first gum graft at the U of U so while David could have done with Dr. Okano assisting, I voted for David to do the assisting. Later he said it was okay and good to watch - and that the stitching up was the boring part that took most of the time anyway.
Before pic in the waiting room:
Well, if I wasn't an ookie person and hated body/blood etc talk - the proceedure probably wouldn't have been that bad. But it was a bit over an hour and that hour was BAD to me. I was worried about the gas, would rather be put out, and didn't want to stay crazy things ha. Anyway, I think I felt completely immoveable but I think I probably wasn't. I mostly just sat and tried not to listen to the educational chat going around me - sometimes it was about the procedure - where and how much to cut and put it where else. Then there was lots of tugging and such. Also, I had a few shots - near the bottom gums and then in the top right roof of my mouth (this is where the new gum came from). And half way through I had to ask for another shot cuz I was starting to feel it all. I was fine to have others watching from David's class but the chat - was not good - so David got me his ipod and I remember just turning up the music louder and louder and switching back and forth between a few songs over and over that were loud and made me happier. YUCK. But, the pain - not much - just tugging and chat - so it could have been much worse, right? I felt compliant and a good quiet patient, but we'll never know huh? David said I did talk but he hasn't told me much still... Dr Okano was very nice through it all and I felt very safe with him so that was good, and David right there too was wonderful.
Next up, recovery.
In a few words... the pain is bad, sleeping is hard, and the eating is the worst.
We did the procedure on a Thursday, so I had a weekend to recover with David helping.
The roof of my mouth hurt the most the first several days. I wore my retainer to help protect the spot but it would dig into it. It's basically an open wound, well it had stitches and a flap of skin on top - but the flap came off, we noticed later, so it was extra painful. Next the gums at the bottom. The first few days it was just open, until we put this perio gauze stuff on it to cover it for a week or when it would fall off. Being open just made me nervous ALL the time. And even covered too - not good. But Tyson did whack that area a few times (mostly not on purpose) and that was bad! The gum was very tender and it was hard not to look at and see how it was doing. The perio pack didn't just fall off so I had to pry it off because it was stuck to stitches - yuck! And bloody. I also didn't brush much the first week and my mouth was so yucky and full of plaque. I couldn't suck from a straw or swish anything either, yuck.
Food wise - I really didn't realize how inhibiting this was going to be, for at least 6 weeks I couldn't bite on ANYTHING with front teeth. Even a banana or anything. The first few days I ate frosty's, sundaes, yogurt, etc. But cankers came fast and I needed real food. We did mashed potatoes and broth types, but I just never found anything great to eat. After the first week or so we did soft foods such as rices and pastas (but pasta was too hard and killed my jaw) and I really can't think of all that I ate - it just didn't seem like a lot. Shayla brought Zupas - so nice! I ate that for a few days. And Brooke came and helped watch Tyson on that first day by myself and she brought a frosty too - yum. I felt definitely taken care of. And I also felt grumpy about the food situation. Our family meals were hard to plan and each week we'd think of so many foods I'd want to eat but can't. Burgers were ones I craved - not possible. And corn or apples or anything. I still don't bite apples or corn with my front - they say it will take up to 6 months to fully heal. And biting anything at first was scary.
Later on the hard parts were - flossing, then watching the gums change different colors and also I had lots of gum "tags" that would show up and pull off some of the thickness and recede some. Dr Okano would check and say he expected that though - although I had no idea so was worried! It looks LOTS better though and while I would pray to never ever do it again - it was definitely worth it.
After 3-4 weeks Dr Okano pulled out the stitches - yuck! But felt nice after they were all out - there were tons weaved back and forth and on the back side to hold it all together too. We'll see how it looks 6 months down the road, but I'm excited to have more gums and hopefully less problems later down the road (no teeth falling out down there please!!).
BEFORE
This is what check-ups looked like --- my boys are cute and silly.
