Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
Gum grafting in Pompano Beach at South Florida Smile Spa treats gum recession: the slow retreat of the gumline that exposes the roots of the teeth, makes them look long and yellow at the neck, and leaves them sensitive to cold and vulnerable to decay. Recession does not grow back on its own. A gum graft replaces the lost tissue with a thin piece of your own tissue or a donor material, covering the root and giving the tooth a thick, stable band of gum again. This page explains why gums recede, the three kinds of graft and when each is used, what the procedure and recovery are like, and what it costs.
Quick answer
A gum graft is a minor surgical procedure that rebuilds receded gum tissue over an exposed tooth root. Our periodontist at South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach takes a small piece of tissue from the roof of the mouth, or uses a donor collagen material so nothing is taken from the palate, and secures it over the recession with fine stitches. It takes about an hour under local anesthetic, with sedation available, and treats one tooth or several at once. The graft stops sensitivity, protects the root from decay and further recession, and makes the gumline even again. Expect about two weeks of soft food and careful brushing, with the graft fully matured in two to three months.
Gum Recession
Why gums recede, and why it matters
Gum tissue does not regenerate. Once the gumline has moved down a root it stays there unless it is surgically rebuilt, and the causes are usually several of these at once.
- Brushing too hard with a medium or hard brush, the commonest cause in people with otherwise healthy mouths, typically on the canines and premolars.
- Gum disease, which destroys the bone and the gum follows it. The American Dental Association lists gums that have pulled away from the teeth as a warning sign of periodontal disease.
- Thin gum tissue, an inherited trait: some people simply have little attached gum to begin with, and it recedes with normal wear.
- Teeth out of position, orthodontic movement, grinding and clenching, lip or tongue piercings, and tobacco.
Exposed root is not covered by enamel. It is softer, decays more easily, is sensitive to cold and sweet, and keeps receding once the thin tissue over it is gone. A graft fixes all four problems at once.
Three kinds of gum graft
| Graft | Where the tissue comes from | Best for | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connective tissue graft | A layer of tissue from beneath the surface of the palate, through a small flap that is stitched closed | Covering exposed roots, especially on front teeth where appearance matters | The standard for root coverage; two surgical sites, but the palate heals quickly under its flap |
| Free gingival graft | A thin strip of surface tissue from the palate | Thickening very thin gums to stop future recession, usually on lower front teeth | Strongest tissue; the color match is less exact, so it is used where it will not show |
| Donor (allograft) or collagen matrix | Sterile processed donor tissue or a collagen scaffold; nothing taken from your palate | Several teeth at once, patients who want to avoid a palate wound, and root coverage where the gum is already reasonably thick | No second surgical site and less discomfort; slightly less predictable gain in thickness than your own tissue |
The Procedure
What happens during a gum graft
- Diagnosis. Dr. Berger measures the recession and the thickness of the remaining gum, checks for the cause, and decides with our periodontist which graft and technique fit. Active gum disease is treated first.
- Anesthesia. Local anesthetic numbs the teeth being treated and, if tissue is being taken, the palate. Nitrous oxide or IV sedation is available for anxious patients or larger cases.
- Preparing the root. The exposed root surface is cleaned and smoothed so the graft can attach to it, and the gum around the recession is gently loosened to make a pocket or tunnel.
- Harvesting or preparing the graft. For your own tissue, a piece a few millimeters wide is taken from the palate and the site is closed with stitches or a protective dressing. Donor material is simply trimmed to size.
- Placing the graft. The graft is slid over the root and under the loosened gum, positioned at the original gumline, and secured with fine dissolving sutures. The whole procedure takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on how many teeth are treated.
Recovery, week by week
The first two days bring mild swelling and soreness, more from the palate than from the grafted site if your own tissue was used, controlled with ibuprofen and acetaminophen. For the first week eat soft, cool food, do not brush or floss the grafted teeth, rinse gently with the prescribed mouthwash, and do not pull your lip back to look at the graft, which is the single commonest way patients disturb it. The graft will look pale, then red, then gradually match the surrounding gum. Stitches dissolve or are removed at ten to fourteen days, when gentle brushing resumes. By three to four weeks the graft is firmly attached and you can eat normally. The tissue continues to thicken and blend for two to three months, which is when the final result is judged. Smoking slows every stage and is the main cause of graft failure, so it is stopped before surgery and for as long as possible afterward.
Results, and how long they last
With a connective tissue graft, complete root coverage is achieved in most cases where bone still exists between the teeth, and partial coverage where some bone has been lost. Sensitivity usually disappears within weeks. A graft that has healed is permanent tissue, and with a soft brush, correct technique and treated gum disease it lasts a lifetime. What a graft cannot do is protect against the cause continuing: a patient who returns to scrubbing with a hard brush will recede again, above or beside the graft. That is why every gum graft here comes with a brushing lesson and a soft brush, and why grinders are fitted with a nightguard.
Gum grafting around implants and before orthodontics
Two situations call for a graft before there is any recession to see. Dental implants need a thick band of firm gum around them to stay healthy, and an implant placed into thin tissue is prone to peri-implantitis and an ugly gray show-through, so our periodontist often thickens the gum at the time of placement or before the crown goes on. And orthodontic treatment can move a tooth outward through a thin gum, so a thin area over a tooth that is about to be moved is grafted first. Both are planned on the same scan as the main treatment. The ADA warning signs of gum disease, including gums pulling away from the teeth, are covered on our gum disease diagnosis page.
Cost and insurance
Gum grafting is priced per tooth or per site, with a lower per-tooth fee when several adjacent teeth are treated in one visit, and donor material adds a materials cost but removes the palate surgery. Most dental plans cover gum grafting as periodontal surgery, often at 50 to 80 percent after the deductible, when recession or thin tissue is documented; purely cosmetic grafting is usually not covered. Our team verifies your benefit and gives you the figure before the procedure is scheduled.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa for gum grafting
- A periodontist does the grafting. Our periodontist performs gum grafts at South Florida Smile Spa, with Dr. Berger diagnosing, planning and following up in the same office.
- The cause is treated too. Brushing technique, grinding and gum disease are addressed, so the graft is not undone by the habit that caused the recession.
- Donor tissue when you want it. No palate wound for patients who prefer it or who need several teeth treated.
- Sedation available. Nitrous oxide or IV sedation provided by Dr. Berger under her Florida sedation permit.
- Insurance verified first. A per-tooth quote and your plan’s contribution before anything is booked.
Patients come to us for gum grafting from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek. If your teeth look longer than they used to or ache with cold at the gumline, recession is the likely reason and it is measurable in minutes.
Teeth looking longer, or sensitive at the gumline
Book an exam. Dr. Berger will measure the recession, find the cause, and tell you whether a graft is needed now, later, or not at all.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gum grafting painful?
The procedure is not, because the area is fully numbed and sedation is available. Afterward, the grafted site is usually only mildly sore; the palate, if tissue was taken from it, feels like a pizza burn for about a week and is the part patients notice most. Donor tissue avoids that entirely. Over-the-counter pain relievers are enough for most people.
How long does a gum graft take to heal?
The graft is attached within about two weeks, when the stitches come out and brushing resumes. Normal eating returns by three to four weeks. The tissue keeps maturing and blending in color for two to three months, which is when the final result is assessed.
Can receding gums grow back without surgery?
No. Gum tissue that has receded does not regenerate, whatever a toothpaste or oil-pulling claims. What you can do is stop it getting worse: switch to a soft brush and gentle technique, treat gum disease, and wear a nightguard if you grind. A graft is the only way to put tissue back over an exposed root.
Does a gum graft fix sensitivity?
Usually, yes. Cold sensitivity at the gumline comes from exposed root surface, and covering it with gum removes the trigger. Most patients notice the sensitivity gone within a few weeks of healing. Sensitivity that comes from a crack or decay is a different problem and is checked at the exam.
Will I need tissue taken from the roof of my mouth?
Not necessarily. Your own connective tissue gives the most predictable root coverage and is often recommended for a single visible front tooth. Donor tissue or a collagen matrix avoids the palate altogether and is preferred for several teeth, for patients who want less post-operative discomfort, and when the gum is already reasonably thick. Our periodontist will recommend one and explain why.
How many teeth can be grafted at once?
Several adjacent teeth are routinely treated in one visit, and with donor tissue a whole quadrant or more can be done at once. Using your own palate tissue limits how much can be harvested in one session, so large cases are split over two visits or done with donor material.
Who performs gum grafting at South Florida Smile Spa?
Our periodontist, who comes to the office to perform periodontal and surgical procedures including gum grafts, pocket reduction, extractions and implants. Dr. Berger diagnoses the recession, plans the treatment, provides sedation if needed, and follows your healing at your routine visits.
Is gum grafting covered by insurance?
Often in part, as periodontal surgery, when recession or lack of attached gum is documented on the chart and X-rays. Coverage is typically 50 to 80 percent after the deductible, up to the plan’s annual maximum. Grafting done purely to improve appearance is usually not covered. We check your plan before scheduling.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Patients come for gum grafting and periodontal care from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.