Advanced Periodontal Care
Soft‑Tissue & Gum Grafts
Gum grafting is a periodontal plastic surgery procedure used to restore gum tissue that has receded due to periodontal disease, trauma, or aggressive brushing. Recession can expose tooth roots, leading to sensitivity, esthetic concerns, and an increased risk of decay.
Gum grafting involves taking healthy tissue — typically from the palate or a donor source — and placing it at the affected site to restore natural gum coverage and thickness. We select the most conservative and predictable grafting technique based on your tissue type and esthetic goals, with a focus on natural-looking gum architecture.
Two different problems bring patients here, and they call for different techniques. The first is coverage: a root is exposed, it is sensitive or visible, and the goal is to bring gum back over it. The second is reinforcement: the tissue at a site is thin, mobile, or almost absent, and the goal is to build a band of firm, attached gum that will hold its position — whether or not any root is currently exposed.
Gum tissue does not grow back once it has receded. There is no rinse, gel, toothpaste, or brushing technique that restores it, and treatments advertised as regrowing gums do not. Grafting is the only way to replace tissue that has been lost, which is why the decision worth making early is whether to stop the recession before it needs covering.
Types of gum grafting
Connective tissue graft
Tissue from beneath the surface of the palate is placed over the recession — widely regarded as the benchmark for covering exposed roots.
Free gingival graft
Tissue from the surface of the palate is added where the gum is thin, increasing firm, attached tissue.
Pedicle graft
Healthy gum next to the affected tooth is partially freed and moved over the exposed root while staying connected to its blood supply.
Tunnel technique
A minimally invasive approach that places the graft through small openings for a natural, comfortable result.
Who it’s for
- Receding gums and exposed, sensitive tooth roots
- Thin or insufficient gum tissue that is likely to recede further
- Little or no firm attached gum at a tooth, making it uncomfortable to brush
- An uneven gumline affecting the appearance of the smile
- Exposed roots at risk of decay, abrasion, or notching
- Reinforcing tissue before orthodontic treatment or a restoration at the gum margin
- Thin tissue around a dental implant that needs thickening
What to expect
- 1
Evaluation
The recession is measured and classified, tissue thickness is assessed, and — importantly — the tissue between the teeth is examined, since that determines how much coverage is achievable.
- 2
Finding the cause
Brushing technique, bite forces, grinding, a restrictive frenum, or previous orthodontic movement. Grafting without correcting the cause invites a repeat.
- 3
Choosing the technique
Coverage goals point toward a connective tissue graft or tunnel; building attached tissue points toward a free gingival graft. The site decides, not preference.
- 4
The graft
Healthy tissue from the palate — or a donor or collagen substitute — is placed at the site under local anesthesia and secured with fine sutures.
- 5
Healing
The graft takes up blood supply from the surrounding tissue and integrates over the following weeks. Leaving it undisturbed is what allows this to happen.
- 6
Maturation
Color and contour continue to blend for several months. Exposed roots are covered, thin tissue strengthened, and the site becomes easier to keep clean.
Recovery & aftercare
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and post-operative discomfort is typically mild at the grafted site itself. Where tissue is harvested from the palate, that donor area is usually the more noticeable of the two and feels sore for one to two weeks; a protective plate or dressing makes a real difference.
The site must be left alone. No brushing over it, no flossing the treated teeth, no chewing on that side, and no lifting the lip to inspect it — an antimicrobial rinse replaces mechanical cleaning until we clear you to resume. Disturbing the graft in the first weeks is the most common cause of a poor result.
Initial healing occurs within one to two weeks, with the tissue maturing in color, texture, and contour over the following months. Grafts frequently look pale, patchy, or slightly bulky early on and blend in substantially as they settle, so the two-week appearance is not the outcome.
Common questions
- Is gum grafting painful?
- The grafted site is usually comfortable, because it is covered and protected. The palate donor site is the part patients notice — commonly described as feeling like a burn on the roof of the mouth for a week or two. Over-the-counter pain relief is normally sufficient, and substitute materials avoid the donor site entirely.
- Can receded gums grow back without surgery?
- No. Gum tissue that has receded does not regenerate, and no toothpaste, rinse, gel, or brushing technique restores it. Products marketed as regrowing gums do not do so. Improving your technique can stop recession getting worse, which is worth doing — but replacing lost tissue requires a graft.
- What if I don’t treat it?
- Some recession is stable and can be monitored. Where it is progressing, the consequences accumulate: increasing sensitivity, root decay and abrasion notching, loss of the bone alongside the root, and eventually a tooth with too little support. Treating early is easier and more predictable than treating late.
- How long does healing take?
- Initial healing takes one to two weeks and sutures usually come out around then. Full maturation of color and contour takes several months, so it’s worth not judging the result too early.
- Are there alternatives to taking tissue from my palate?
- Yes — processed donor tissue and collagen-based substitutes both work and remove the donor site entirely, which makes recovery considerably easier. They are slightly less predictable than your own tissue in demanding esthetic cases, so the trade-off is worth discussing for your specific site.
- Will the graft match my other gums?
- A connective tissue graft placed beneath your own gum matches well, because what shows is your own tissue. A free gingival graft placed on the surface carries the palate’s paler, firmer character and can remain visibly different — which is why it is used where firm tissue matters more than appearance, typically away from the smile zone.
- Can several teeth be grafted in one appointment?
- Yes, and it’s often better to. Treating adjacent recessions together with a tunnel technique needs only one harvest, one recovery, and produces a more even gumline than treating them one at a time.
- Will my sensitivity go away?
- Usually, and it’s one of the more reliable benefits. Covering the exposed root removes the exposed dentin that was conducting the stimulus. Sensitivity typically improves as the graft integrates over the first weeks.
Talk to a specialist about soft‑tissue & gum grafts
Whether you’re a patient considering treatment or a dentist referring a case, we’ll evaluate, plan, and coordinate care from diagnosis through follow-up.
Sources
This information is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for a professional evaluation. Diagnosis and treatment should always be determined by a qualified dental professional based on your individual condition.