Gum grafting and recession treatment

Gums protect the tooth root and the bone and frame your smile. When gums recede and expose roots, teeth look longer, react to cold and sweet food, and decay develops more easily on the exposed root. Gum graft surgery restores the gum line and covers the roots. At UKRMED it is part of periodontal treatment.

Photo: Funkynatsuki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What gum recession is

Gum recession means the gum margin moves down and exposes the neck or root of the tooth. It is not just a cosmetic issue: without treatment it may progress, and the exposed root becomes vulnerable.

Common causes, often combined:

• gum inflammation and periodontitis (inflammation of the tissues holding the tooth);
• brushing too hard with a stiff brush;
• naturally thin gums and bone;
• bite problems and overloading of some teeth;
• teeth grinding;
• a tight lip frenulum (the fold of tissue connecting the lip to the gum) pulling on the gum;
• tooth movement during orthodontic treatment.

Recession after braces happens when a tooth moves beyond thin bone or the gums were thin from the start. That is why gums should be checked before braces and monitored during treatment.

When gum recession treatment needs surgery

Surgery is needed if the exposed root is sensitive, recession is progressing, the gum around a tooth is very thin or the defect shows in the smile. If the gums are inflamed, periodontal treatment and a professional cleaning come first: surgery is done only on healthy tissue.

What is a gum graft and other techniques

Root coverage with your own tissue. The gum margin is moved up to cover the root. If needed, a connective tissue graft (a thin piece of tissue from the palate) is placed under the flap (the shifted section of gum).

Gum tissue graft. A thin layer of tissue is taken from the palate and moved to where the gum is thin or missing. This widens the zone of firm (attached, called keratinised in the price list) gum, which better withstands brushing and chewing.

A Cochrane systematic review (by the international Cochrane organisation, which assesses how well treatments work) of root coverage techniques found that subepithelial connective tissue grafts give greater recession reduction and more firm gum than some other methods. That is why they are considered a reliable option when both root coverage and thicker gums are needed.

Gum grafting around implants

Gums play the same protective role around an implant as around a tooth. Grafting is needed when there is too little firm gum around an implant or it is thin and shows through. It is done before or after implant placement, as decided by the surgeon and periodontist together. More about the implant stage on the dental implants page.

How treatment works

1. Periodontist consultation. Recession is measured and gum thickness and causes are assessed.
2. Preparation. Hygiene, treating inflammation, correcting brushing habits.
3. Surgery under local anaesthesia.
4. Gum graft recovery. For a few days: soft food, gentle cleaning of the area and check-ups.

UKRMED's periodontist Nataliia Tarhonska has over 11 years of experience in dentistry.

Prices

Sources

1. Chambrone L., Sukekava F., Araújo M. G. et al. Root-coverage procedures for the treatment of localized recession-type defects: a Cochrane systematic review. J Periodontol, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1902/jop.2010.090540
2. NHS. Gum disease. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gum-disease/