Gum Grafting

Dr. Maxim Godko performs every gum graft himself, in-house. Deluxe offers periodontal, endodontic, prosthodontic and oral surgery services under one roof, so you are never referred out to a specialist, and the same doctor plans the implants and crowns your new gum line protects.

Teeth that look longer than they used to, a notch you can feel where tooth meets gum, or sensitivity near the gumline are the usual signs. Dr. Godko measures the recession at your personalized consultation and tells you whether a graft is needed.

Gum grafts are named for where the tissue comes from. A connective tissue graft, the most widely used type, takes a thin layer of tissue from beneath the surface of the roof of the mouth. A free gingival graft takes a small piece from the surface, often to thicken thin gum. A pedicle graft moves gum over from right beside the tooth, and an allograft uses donor tissue from a tissue bank instead of your own palate. Dr. Godko explains which type of graft fits your gum line at your personalized consultation.

Gum grafting is typically done with local anesthesia, so the area is numb during the procedure. Nitrous oxide, oral sedation or IV sedation, all given by Dr. Godko, is available for patients who prefer it. Expect tenderness at the graft site, and at the roof of the mouth if tissue is taken from there, for a few days afterward.

You leave with aftercare instructions, and a follow-up visit is scheduled to check the graft. Most patients are typically back to normal activities within a few days. Both offices are ready to immediately assist with any concerns.

A graft that takes becomes part of your gum, and it stays healthy as long as the cause of the recession stays under control.

A few days of tenderness, a soft diet while the site heals, and the need to keep the cause controlled afterward. You hear the expected result for your own teeth before you decide.

Yes, when the plan calls for it. Neighboring teeth are often treated in the same visit.

Covering an exposed root protects it, which typically eases root sensitivity at that tooth. Milder sensitivity can often be managed without surgery, and Dr. Godko tells you which applies at your consultation.

Gum grafting is priced at your personalized consultation, because it depends on how many teeth are involved and how much gum each needs; your treatment plan shows the cost before anything is done. We accept PPO plans and most carriers, including CIGNA, MetLife, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental and GEHA Connection Dental. No Medicaid, DMO or HMO plans accepted. We work with your insurance to ensure you receive the maximum benefit. 0% financing through Cherry and in-house membership plans are available too.