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Gum Grafting in Brookline, MA

Treatment Time:
60-90 minutes
Downtime:
7-14 days
Results:
Long term
Performed By:
Periodontist
Gum grafting in Brookline MA covering exposed tooth roots at Smile Brookline on Beacon Street

Soft Tissue Surgery

Gum grafting in Brookline, MA rebuilds gum tissue that has receded, covering exposed root surfaces and restoring a stable band of attached tissue around the tooth. Patients from Coolidge Corner, Brookline Village, Chestnut Hill, Newton, Allston and Brighton come to us when recession has started to hurt or to show.

Dr. Yumi Ogata, a board-certified periodontist and associate professor of periodontology at Tufts, performs all soft tissue grafting here, including connective tissue grafts and root coverage procedures. Her academic focus is tissue regeneration, and she works with Dr. Sara Stock, DDS where restorations sit near the treated margin.

Before and after gum grafting showing restored tissue over exposed roots at Smile Brookline MA

The Challenge

What Gum Grafting Stops When Gums Recede

Understanding Root Exposure

Cold water finds a specific tooth and makes you wince. Looking closely, the gum has crept up and the tooth looks longer than its neighbour, with a slightly yellower band near the gumline where root surface is now exposed. Brushing that spot is uncomfortable, so you brush it less, or you brush it harder, and both make it worse. Recession does not reverse on its own, and root surface has no enamel to protect it.
Grafting rebuilds the tissue. A thin layer of connective tissue, usually taken from the palate or from a donor source, is placed over the exposed root and secured beneath the existing gum, where it establishes a new blood supply and integrates. Root coverage reduces sensitivity, protects the root from decay and abrasion, and restores a band of firm tissue that can withstand normal brushing. Most patients report the sensitivity resolving within weeks.

Understanding Your Treatment

What Is Gum Grafting?

The Science of Root Coverage

Gum grafting, or gingival grafting, is periodontal surgery that adds soft tissue where the gum has receded. The most widely used technique is the subepithelial connective tissue graft, in which a thin layer of tissue is taken from beneath the surface of the palate and placed over the exposed root under a repositioned flap.

Once secured, the graft establishes a blood supply from the surrounding tissue and integrates over several weeks. Alternatives include free gingival grafts, which thicken tissue without necessarily covering the root, and acellular dermal matrix, a processed donor material that avoids a second surgical site on the palate.

Treatment Timeline:

Treatment Time:
60 to 90 minutes
First Signs:
2 to 3 weeks
Full Effect:
3 to 6 months
Recovery:
7 to 14 days

What We Treat

Gum Grafting Treatment Areas

What Grafting Restores

Exposed Tooth Roots
Covers root surface left uncovered as the gum receded
Root Sensitivity
Reduces the cold and touch sensitivity of an exposed root
Thin Gum Tissue
Thickens a fragile biotype that is prone to further recession
Progressive Recession
Stabilises tissue before more attachment is lost
Root Surface Decay Risk
Protects softer root dentine from decay and abrasion
Uneven Gum Margins
Restores symmetry where one tooth has receded further

Benefits of Gum Grafting

Coverage that lasts

Sensitivity ReliefCovering the root usually resolves cold and touch sensitivityStops ProgressionEstablishes a stable band of attached tissue around the toothProtects the RootShields softer root dentine from decay and toothbrush abrasionRestores AppearanceTeeth stop looking long and uneven along the gum marginDocumented SuccessConnective tissue grafting has strong long-term evidence

Gum Grafting vs. Alternatives

Recession that is stable and symptom-free can sometimes be monitored. Progressive or sensitive recession needs coverage.

TreatmentMechanismTimeResultsDurationDowntimeBest For
Connective Tissue GraftTissue from palate placed over root60-90 min2-3 weeksLong term7-14 daysRoot coverage with best long-term evidence
Donor Matrix GraftProcessed donor tissue used instead60-90 min2-3 weeksLong term5-10 daysAvoiding a second palatal surgical site
Desensitising TreatmentVarnish or bonding on the root10-20 minDays3-6 monthsNoneSensitivity relief without coverage
MonitoringMeasure and observe over timeAt recallNot applicableNot applicableNoneStable recession with no symptoms

Is This Right for You

Who Is a Good Candidate for Gum Grafting?

Deciding When to Cover

Not all recession needs surgery. Stable, symptom-free recession with adequate attached tissue can often be monitored. Grafting is indicated where the recession is progressing, causing symptoms, or threatening the long-term prognosis of the tooth.

Ideal Candidates for Gum Grafting

  • Patients with root sensitivity that desensitising treatment has not resolved
  • Anyone whose recession has measurably progressed between recall appointments
  • Patients with thin gum tissue and little attached gingiva around a tooth
  • People with root surface decay or notching from abrasion at the gumline
  • Patients bothered by the appearance of a tooth that looks noticeably longer

Who Should Address Something Else First

  • Patients with active periodontal disease, who need gum disease treatment before elective grafting
  • Anyone whose recession is driven by aggressive brushing, until technique is corrected
  • Patients with untreated grinding, where a night guard should protect the result
  • Smokers, since healing and graft survival are measurably poorer
  • Patients with recession caused by tooth position, where alignment may need addressing first

Grafting corrects the damage but not the cause, so we identify what drove the recession before operating. Patient information on gum disease and recession is published by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Your Experience

What Happens During Gum Grafting Treatment

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Assessment

    Dr. Ogata measures recession depth, tissue thickness and the width of attached gingiva.

  2. Anaesthetic

    Local anaesthetic numbs both the recipient site and the palate if tissue is taken there.

  3. Harvest

    A thin connective tissue layer is taken from beneath the palate surface, or donor matrix is used.

  4. Placement

    The graft is positioned over the exposed root and secured under a repositioned flap.

  5. Healing Review

    Sutures are checked at one to two weeks, with maturation reviewed over three to six months.

Risks and Side Effects

What to Know

Common Gum Grafting Side Effects

Swelling and discomfort for seven to fourteen days is expected, and the palatal donor site is often more uncomfortable than the graft site itself. Bruising, mild bleeding in the first day and a temporary white appearance to healing tissue are all normal.

Less Common Complications

Partial graft failure or incomplete root coverage occurs in a minority of cases and is more likely with deeper recession, thin tissue or smoking. Colour and texture can differ slightly from the surrounding gum, particularly with free gingival grafts. Bleeding from the palatal donor site occasionally needs review, and infection is uncommon but possible.

Safety and Long-Term Stability

Grafting corrects damage but does not remove the cause, so aggressive brushing, grinding or an unfavourable tooth position must be addressed or recession recurs. Tell us about anticoagulants, bisphosphonates, diabetes and smoking. Guidance on periodontal health is published by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Investment

Gum Grafting Cost in Brookline

Pricing and Payment Options

How Much Does Gum Grafting Cost in Brookline?

Grafting is priced per site, and treating several adjacent teeth in one surgery is more economical per tooth than treating them separately. Whether tissue is harvested from your palate or a donor matrix is used also affects the fee. Nationally, gum grafting commonly ranges from about $600 to $1,800 per site. You receive a written figure after Dr. Ogata has assessed the recession.

Insurance and Flexible Payment Options

Grafting performed for sensitivity, root protection or progressive recession is a functional procedure, and many dental plans contribute. Purely aesthetic root coverage is less consistently covered. Smile Brookline submits claims to all major commercial carriers on your behalf.

  • Cherry - monthly payment plans, apply at pay.withcherry.com/smilebrookline
  • Staged surgery - multiple sites can be treated across separate appointments where preferred

The Smile Brookline Difference

Why Choose Smile Brookline for Gum Grafting in Brookline

Beacon Street Since 1992

Dr. Yumi Ogata performs all grafting here. She is a board-certified periodontist, an associate professor of periodontology at Tufts and a recipient of the American Academy of Periodontology award for outstanding teaching in the specialty. Root coverage is technique-sensitive surgery, and it is worth having a specialist do it.

Book Your Visit

  • Board-Certified Periodontist

    All soft tissue grafting performed by Dr. Ogata

  • Technique Options

    Connective tissue, free gingival and donor matrix available

  • Cause Addressed

    Brushing technique, grinding and alignment reviewed alongside surgery

  • Coordinated Restorative

    Dr. Stock plans any restoration sitting near the new margin

  • Teaching Award Winner

    AAP award for outstanding teaching in periodontology

  • Fee for Service

    Technique chosen on merit, not on what a plan reimburses

Gum disease treatment in Brookline MA with periodontal charting at Smile Brookline Beacon Street

Explore More

Gum Disease Treatment

Stop bleeding, swelling and bone loss before you lose a tooth.

  1. Stops Bone Loss
  2. Bleeding Resolves
  3. Fresher Breath
Learn More

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Scaling and Root Planing

Deep cleaning that reaches below the gumline to stop infection.

  1. Avoids Surgery
  2. Measurable Result
  3. Stops Attachment Loss
Learn More

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Night Guards

Custom occlusal splints that protect your teeth and ease jaw tension while you sleep.

  1. Precise Fit
  2. Protects Investment
  3. Thin and Comfortable
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Dental Cleaning

Comfortable hygiene visits built around prevention rather than repair.

  1. Stops Gum Disease Early
  2. Fewer Fillings
  3. Immediate Freshness
Learn More

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Gum Grafting

How much does gum grafting cost in Brookline, MA?
Grafting is priced per site, commonly $600 to $1,800 nationally, and treating adjacent teeth together is more economical per tooth. Whether we harvest from your palate or use donor matrix also affects the fee. Functional grafting is often partly covered by insurance, and we submit claims for you.
How long does gum grafting take to heal?
The surgery takes 60 to 90 minutes. Initial healing takes seven to fourteen days, and the graft continues maturing in colour and contour for three to six months. Sensitivity usually improves within two to three weeks, well before the tissue finishes blending.
Does gum grafting hurt?
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic and is comfortable at the time. Afterwards, most patients find the palatal donor site more uncomfortable than the graft site, and it settles within a week. Using donor matrix instead of your own tissue avoids that second site entirely.
Will the graft cover the root completely?
In most well-selected cases, yes. Complete root coverage depends on the recession classification, particularly whether the bone and tissue between the teeth are intact. Dr. Ogata will tell you at the assessment what degree of coverage is realistic rather than promising full coverage in every case.
How long do gum grafts last?
Connective tissue grafts have strong long-term evidence, and results are generally stable for many years. Stability depends on removing the cause: aggressive brushing, grinding or an unfavourable tooth position will produce recession again. We address those alongside the surgery.
What is the difference between gum grafting and gum contouring?
Grafting adds tissue where the gum has receded and roots are exposed. Cosmetic gum contouring removes excess tissue where too much gum shows. They are opposite procedures for opposite problems, and occasionally a patient needs one on some teeth and the other elsewhere.
Can men and women of any age have gum grafting?
Yes. Recession affects adults across the age range, and thin tissue biotype is often the underlying factor rather than age. There is no upper limit provided general health supports healing. Diabetes control, anticoagulant use and smoking matter far more than age.
Do you have to take tissue from my palate?
Not always. A connective tissue graft from the palate has the strongest evidence base, but acellular dermal matrix from a tissue bank avoids a second surgical site and shortens recovery. Dr. Ogata discusses which suits your case, tissue thickness and comfort preference.
Will my gums recede again after grafting?
Not if the cause is addressed. Grafting fixes the damage, not the mechanism. If aggressive brushing, nighttime grinding or crowding caused the original recession and nothing changes, recession recurs. We review brushing technique and assess grinding as part of treatment planning.
Can I have grafting if I have gum disease?
Active periodontal disease must be treated first. Scaling and root planing controls the infection and allows the tissue to stabilise, and only then is elective grafting predictable. Operating into inflamed tissue compromises the graft.

Location

1425 Beacon StreetBrookline, MA, 02446

Email

info@smilebrookline.com

Phone

(617) 731-3364

Get Started

Book Your Recession Assessment

References

  1. Chambrone L et al., J Periodontol. (2022). Does the subepithelial connective tissue graft in conjunction with a coronally advanced flap remain as the gold standard therapy for the treatment of single gingival recession defects? A systematic review and network meta-analysis. PMID: 35451068.
  2. Cairo F et al., J Clin Periodontol. (2020). Aesthetic-And patient-related outcomes following root coverage procedures: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. PMID: 32654220.
  3. Barootchi S et al., J Periodontol. (2020). Gingival phenotype modification therapies on natural teeth: A network meta-analysis. PMID: 32392401.
  4. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2024). Overview of periodontal disease and recession, including when surgical correction is considered.