Dentists fix receding gums through a range of treatments, from deep cleaning in mild cases to surgical grafting when roots are significantly exposed. The right approach depends on how far the gums have pulled back, whether gum disease is driving the recession, and how much tissue remains around the affected teeth.
Deep Cleaning for Early Recession
When recession is mild and linked to gum disease, the first step is usually scaling and root planing, often called a “deep cleaning.” This goes well beyond a routine dental cleaning. Your dentist or hygienist numbs your gums with local anesthesia, then uses hand instruments or ultrasonic tools to remove plaque and tartar both above and below the gumline. The second part, root planing, involves smoothing the tooth roots so the gum tissue can reattach more easily.
In some cases, your provider will also place antibiotics directly around the tooth roots or prescribe oral antibiotics to take afterward. Deep cleaning alone won’t regrow gum tissue that’s already gone, but it can stop the recession from getting worse and allow mildly inflamed gums to tighten back around the teeth on their own.
Gum Grafting Surgery
When enough gum tissue has been lost that tooth roots are visibly exposed, grafting is the most common fix. A periodontist takes tissue from one area of your mouth and attaches it to the recession site. There are three main types, each suited to different situations.
Connective Tissue Graft
This is the most widely performed technique. The periodontist cuts a small flap in the roof of your mouth and removes a piece of the deeper connective tissue underneath, leaving the outer layer intact. That tissue is then stitched over the exposed root. Because the graft comes from a deeper layer, the color and texture tend to blend well with your existing gums, making it the preferred option when appearance matters. Connective tissue grafts achieve some of the best coverage results: one analysis found an average of 98.4% root coverage at about two and a half years after surgery.
Free Gingival Graft
Instead of harvesting from underneath a flap, the periodontist takes a strip of tissue directly from the surface of the roof of your mouth, including both the outer layer and the connective tissue beneath it. This creates a thicker, tougher patch of gum. Free gingival grafts are typically chosen when the goal is to reinforce thin gums and prevent further recession rather than to achieve the most natural look. Success rates range from 76% to 95.5%, and long-term studies show these grafts hold up remarkably well. One longitudinal study found that 83% of treated sites maintained their improvement for up to 35 years.
Pedicle Graft
This option uses gum tissue from right next to the recession site. The periodontist partially cuts a flap of nearby gum, keeping one edge attached so it retains its own blood supply, then stretches or rotates it over the exposed root. Because the tissue stays connected to its original blood supply, healing can be faster. The catch is that you need enough healthy gum tissue adjacent to the affected tooth, which not everyone has.
The Pinhole Surgical Technique
For patients who want to avoid the traditional cut-and-stitch approach, the Pinhole Surgical Technique offers a less invasive alternative. Instead of removing tissue from the palate, the periodontist makes a tiny, pinhole-sized entry point in the gum near the recession. A specialized instrument is inserted through that hole to gently loosen the existing gum tissue and slide it down (or up) over the exposed root. Small collagen strips are then tucked through the pinhole to hold the tissue in its new position while it heals.
There are no large incisions and no sutures. Because there’s no donor site on the roof of the mouth, patients generally experience less post-operative discomfort. The technique works best for mild to moderate recession and can treat multiple teeth in a single visit. Not all periodontists offer it, so you may need to specifically seek out a provider trained in the procedure.
How Well Do These Procedures Work?
Gum grafting has strong long-term track records. The connective tissue graft combined with a coronally advanced flap (where existing gum is also shifted toward the crown of the tooth) is considered the gold standard, achieving about 80% root coverage on average across large studies. Individual connective tissue grafts in other analyses have reached coverage rates above 98%, though results vary depending on the severity of recession and the skill of the surgeon.
Coverage does decline somewhat over the years, which is normal. Research shows root coverage holding at about 88.7% after one year and still at roughly 52% after 27 years. That gradual change reflects natural aging and ongoing wear rather than graft failure. For most patients, even partial root coverage eliminates sensitivity, protects the tooth, and significantly improves appearance.
Recovery After Gum Surgery
The first two weeks are the most restrictive. You’ll eat only soft foods like yogurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and smoothies, and you’ll avoid chewing anywhere near the graft site. You should not brush the grafted area until your periodontist clears you. When brushing does resume, you’ll use an extra-soft toothbrush and very gentle strokes.
Around the two-week mark, you can start adding more solid foods on the opposite side of your mouth. By three to four weeks, most people return to a fairly normal diet, though crunchy and hard foods near the surgical site are still off limits. Full healing takes six to eight weeks, and your periodontist will confirm at a follow-up visit when you’re cleared to eat and brush normally again. The roof of the mouth, if tissue was harvested there, typically heals within two to three weeks but can feel tender for longer.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
Gum grafting in the United States averages around $2,742, with costs ranging from about $2,120 to nearly $5,000 depending on how many teeth are involved, the type of graft, and your geographic area. That figure generally covers a single surgical session, and some patients need more than one if recession affects multiple areas of the mouth.
Dental insurance coverage is inconsistent. Some plans only cover grafting once recession reaches a specific threshold, and the percentage they pay varies widely, with some covering half and others covering more. If gum disease has progressed to the point where it threatens your overall health, medical insurance may step in to cover what’s classified as medically necessary surgery. It’s worth calling both your dental and medical insurers before scheduling.
Who May Not Be a Candidate
Not everyone with receding gums is immediately eligible for surgery. Active gum disease needs to be treated and stabilized first, since grafting onto inflamed, infected tissue leads to poor outcomes. Smoking significantly impairs healing and reduces the success rate of grafts, so many periodontists will ask you to quit or at least stop for several weeks before and after surgery. Pedicle grafts specifically require enough healthy tissue next to the recession site; if that tissue is thin or already receding, a different technique is needed. Uncontrolled diabetes and certain blood-thinning medications can also complicate surgery, so your periodontist will review your full medical history before recommending a procedure.