3 Consent Questions Before a Gum Graft

A gum graft can sound like a small addition to a dental plan until you start wondering what eating, brushing and returning to work will involve. Before consenting, ask the team to make the proposed operation concrete.

Three consent questions

1. “What result are we aiming for at each tooth?” Gum grafting may help with exposed roots, sensitivity and appearance.¹ Ask what improvement your clinician expects at each site and what they cannot predict. Put your own priority into the discussion.
2. “Where will the tissue come from?” Donor tissue can avoid taking tissue from your palate.² Ask which approach is proposed, why it fits your case and whether you will have a second area in your mouth to care for.
3. “What changes during recovery?” Cleveland Clinic² describes avoiding brushing or flossing the graft until the surgeon clears it, eating soft foods initially and arranging a ride if sedation is used.² Get your own written instructions, including work, exercise and follow-up arrangements.

Know the contact route

Contact the dental team promptly about heavy bleeding, pus or other signs of infection.² Ask who handles an out-of-hours problem and keep that number with the recovery sheet.

Bring a typical workday into the planning conversation: meals, travel, speaking and caring responsibilities. The team can explain what the proposed procedure means for that schedule.

Is It My Breath? includes a visit script and two-minute routine card. Use the script for your consultation questions; ask the dental team how to adapt your usual routine during recovery. See the book.