In this picture we are approaching the final stage of this tissue graft.  I am using 4-0 chromic gut sutures secure the tissue graft.  This whole procedure, including suturing, is delicate work.  This young lady was sedated and tolerated the procedure very well.  She was released without complication to her husband.

All dentistry was done in my Palm Harbor,  Tampa FL area dentist office.

Many things are going on in this picture.  The tissue forceps are holding on to a piece of left palatal tissue.  This tissue was released taking the epithelialized surface and some underlying connective tissue.  This is called “split thickness.”  This epithelium with connective tissue will be placed over the vascular bed of the prepared recipient site for this graft.  The patient was sedated and local anesthesia was used.  The patient was comfortable and has no memory of the procedure.  This dentistry was done in my Palm Harbor, Tampa FL area dentist office.

The gum tissue that was harvested from the palate has been sutured into place with 4-0  chomic gut.  Periodontal packing is placed over this region to protect the surgical site, keep the orbicularis oris from reattaching and to help hold the gum tissue graft down onto the vascular bed – thereby re-establishing the blood supply and keeping the new gum tissue alive.

All this work was done under conscious sedation in my Palm Harbor, Tampa FL area dentist office.

Well, first off, a free ginvival graft is not FREE.  Now let me explain and demonstrate what a gum tissue graft is.  It is called a “free” gingival graft because the donor tissue is completely released or freed from the donor site, where it comes from.  The most common donor site is the palate.  The most common place for the need of a gum graft is the front area of the lower jaw.  This picture shows a piece of palatal donor tissue being placed where some gum tissue is needed.  This patient was sedated for this procedure.  Other blogs will show the preparation of the recipient site as well as the donor site.