Gum Grafting & Recession Treatment
Receding gums exposing sensitive root surface — treated with connective tissue, allograft or minimally invasive techniques by a board-certified periodontist.
Where this fits: A New You is an implant and denture practice. Periodontal surgery is something we also do — for our own patients, and for patients referred to us by other dentists — not the whole of what we are.
What recession is, and why it matters
Gum recession is the gum edge migrating down the tooth, exposing root surface that was never designed to be in the open. Root is softer than enamel, so it wears faster, decays more easily, and is dramatically more sensitive to cold.
Recession does not correct itself, and it rarely stops on its own. The question is whether it's worth intervening now or worth monitoring — and that depends on how thin the remaining tissue is, not on how bad it looks.
What causes it
- Periodontal disease — the most common cause, and the one that has to be treated first.
- Brushing too hard, or with a medium or hard brush. Enthusiasm is not the same as thoroughness.
- Thin gum tissue you were born with. Some people simply have a thin biotype and are prone to it.
- Grinding and clenching, which flexes the tooth at the gumline.
- Tooth position — teeth sitting outside the bony arch have less bone in front of them to begin with.
- Tobacco use, and occasionally lip or tongue piercings.
When it should be treated
Not every recession needs a graft. It needs one when:
- The root is sensitive enough to change what you eat or drink.
- The band of firm attached tissue is so thin there's nothing left to lose — this is the one that matters most, and it's the one you can't see in a mirror.
- The recession is getting measurably worse between visits.
- Root decay or notching has started.
- It shows when you smile and that bothers you. That's a legitimate reason on its own.
The techniques
| Technique | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Connective tissue graft | A thin layer of tissue taken from under the palate and tucked under the gum at the recession site. | The long-standing gold standard for covering exposed roots predictably. |
| Allograft (donor tissue) | Processed donor tissue used instead of your own palate. | Multiple sites at once, or anyone who would rather avoid a second surgical site. |
| Pinhole technique | Tissue is loosened through a small entry point and eased down over the roots — no scalpel, no sutures. | Selected cases with adequate tissue thickness. Not suitable for everyone. |
| Free gingival graft | A thicker surface graft that adds a band of firm tissue. | Reinforcing tissue where there's almost none left, rather than covering root for looks. |
Several recession sites can often be treated in one visit rather than one at a time.
What recovery is really like. Mild to moderate discomfort for the first few days, managed with medication. Soft food for about two weeks. Most people are back to normal activity within a day or two. The graft integrates over three to six months, and the tissue keeps improving in colour and texture through that whole period — so don't judge the result at two weeks.
If tissue was taken from your palate, that site is usually the more annoying of the two for the first few days. A protective stent helps and we'll tell you honestly beforehand.
Afterwards
Do not brush the graft site until you're cleared to — the single most common way a graft is compromised is a patient carefully cleaning it. You'll be given a rinse instead. Once healed, switch to a soft brush and a gentle technique, or the same forces will simply undo the work over the next decade.
Gum Grafting & Recession Treatment, answered
Will the grafted tissue match my other gums?
Yes, once it has matured. Grafted tissue blends with the surrounding gum and ends up looking thicker and healthier. It can look pale or patchy for the first few weeks — that's normal and it resolves.
Does the tissue have to come from my palate?
Not always. Donor allograft material works well in many cases and avoids a second surgical site, which is usually what people are actually worried about. Where your own tissue gives a better result we'll say so and explain why.
Am I a candidate for the pinhole technique?
Some people are. It needs adequate tissue thickness and the right recession pattern, and it isn't a universal substitute for grafting — despite how it's marketed. You'll get a straight answer at your exam rather than a technique chosen before you've been looked at.
How long before I can eat normally?
Soft foods for roughly two weeks. Most people are back to normal activity within a day or two, but the diet is the part that protects the graft while it takes.
Will the recession come back?
Not if the cause is dealt with. If it was heavy brushing and you keep brushing heavily, or grinding that goes unmanaged, it can recur. That's why the conversation about cause matters as much as the surgery.
Does insurance cover gum grafting?
Many plans cover grafting when it's medically necessary — sensitivity, root exposure, inadequate attached tissue — and cover it poorly or not at all when it's purely cosmetic. We verify your benefits and tell you the number before you commit.
Can several teeth be done at once?
Usually yes. Treating multiple recession sites in a single visit means one recovery instead of three, and it's generally kinder on both your calendar and your budget.
Let's begin.
Request your free consultation, including X-rays, and we'll reach out to confirm a time. Prefer to talk now? Give us a call.
Grand Junction, CO 81505
| Monday | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm |
| Thursday | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
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