Thank you to all three writers for your interest in this "For the Dental Patient" article. Each of these articles is intended to be a starting point for discussion between the patient and his or her dentist about possible treatment options. The focus of this particular page is soft-tissue grafts, in particular, why a patient might need a soft-tissue graft and the benefits of such a procedure.
Because "For the Dental Patient" is limited to 550 words, we cannot include all of the details, images, possible causes, treatment options or dental terms that might be found in a longer, more technical article. The readability level—like that of other major health organizations’ patient education materials—is based at the sixth-grade level so that it reaches a wide demographic of dental patients. The two images are meant to show patients one example of gum recession and a subsequent tissue graft, without defining a particular cause of the recession. The page is an opportunity for the dentist to discuss what the procedure involves, why he or she may recommend it and other treatment options based on the patient’s particular needs.
We appreciate your taking the time to contact us with your concerns and suggestions and, as we continue to enhance and expand the patient information on the ADA’s Web site, "www.ada.org", your comments will be shared with our content editors.
