Free gingival graft (SDG) is a surgery performed to create gingiva or increase the amount of existing gingiva. It can simply be expressed as "gaining gums in tooth areas with gingival recession with gingival tissue (graft) taken from the palate." Although this operation is an option to cover the exposed root surface of the tooth, its main purpose is to obtain sufficient attached gingiva.
Attached gingiva is the area between the free gingival groove and the mucogingival junction line. It is tightly attached to the alveolar bone and tooth surface. Its width varies from person to person and from region to region within the mouth. The clinical importance is that this width is sufficient to prevent movement of the free gingival margin. If the width of the attached gingiva is insufficient, this will result in gingival recession in the future.
The surgical procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Only the area where the gum recession occurs and the area where the graft will be taken are anesthetized. After ensuring that numbness is achieved, the recipient area (the area where the amount of gum will be increased/the root surface will be covered) is prepared first. For this, an incision is made at the mucogingival junction line; When the desired depth is achieved, the wound lips are stitched to the periosteum, which is the membranous layer on the bone surface.
Then, surface correction is made on the tooth roots in the relevant area. The dimensions of the graft to be obtained from the palate are determined and then the graft is taken from the palate. Since the anesthesia effect will be present at all these stages, the patient will not feel anything.
Excess tissue in the resulting graft, if any, is removed and then the graft is stitched to the recipient area. After bleeding is controlled, the surface of the recipient area is covered with a paste-like protector that we call "paste", which will harden later, and the patient is told what to pay attention to after the procedure and the necessary medications are prescribed. Patches and stitches are usually removed after 7-10 days.
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