Treatment of gum recession
Receding gums expose the root of the tooth. That is not only how it looks — it is sensitivity, and a higher risk of decay where there is no enamel to protect.
What recession does
When the gum recedes it exposes the root, which has no enamel over it. That brings sensitivity to cold and touch, and a higher risk of decay on a surface that was never meant to be in the mouth.
Connective tissue and free gingival grafts cover the exposed root and thicken tissue that has become too thin to hold its position.
AlloDerm and other allograft materials do the same work without taking tissue from the roof of your mouth, which avoids a second surgical site.
Who it is for
Anyone with roots showing, teeth that have become sensitive along the gum line, or gum tissue thin enough that it is likely to keep receding.
Recession has causes — brushing technique, grinding, the position of a tooth, periodontal disease — and treating the recession without addressing the cause invites it back.
Whether grafting is the right answer, and which kind, is what the consultation establishes.
Recovery
Expect soreness at the site and a period on softer food. Where tissue has been taken from the palate there is a second site to look after; allograft materials avoid that.
You will be given aftercare on the day, including how to clean around the graft without disturbing it while it takes.
Cost and insurance
Cost depends on how many teeth are involved and which graft is used. You will have the figure for your own plan before anything is booked.
Our insurance coordinator works through what your plan covers.
An exposed root has no enamel over it. Covering it is protection, not only appearance.
Questions we are asked
Open any of them. If yours is not here, the front desk will answer it on the phone.
01Will my gums grow back on their own?
No. Gum tissue that has receded does not regenerate by itself, which is why covering the root is a grafting procedure rather than something that resolves with better brushing alone.
02Do you have to take tissue from the roof of my mouth?
Not necessarily. AlloDerm and other allograft materials do the same job without a second surgical site. Which is used depends on the case, and it is discussed beforehand.
03Is it only about appearance?
No. An exposed root has no enamel, so it is more sensitive and more prone to decay. Covering it protects the tooth as well as changing how it looks.
04Will the recession come back?
It can, if whatever caused it continues. That is why the cause — brushing technique, grinding, periodontal disease — is part of the discussion rather than an afterthought.
Not sure this is what you need?
Most people are not, on the first call. Book a comprehensive evaluation and we will tell you what we find, and what it would take to put right.