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Gum grafting rebuilds tissue where your gums have receded, covering exposed roots that cause sensitivity and leave teeth vulnerable to decay and further recession. Gum tissue does not grow back on its own; once the gumline retreats, grafting is how ground gets reclaimed. Done well, it relieves symptoms, protects the teeth long term, and restores a natural, even gumline that no longer makes teeth look elongated.
Healthy tissue, taken from your palate or from a processed donor source when you prefer to avoid a second surgical site, is precisely placed and secured over the receded area, where it integrates with your existing gums and reestablishes a protective collar around the tooth. Modern techniques are refined and minimally invasive, and we numb thoroughly, plan carefully, and handle tissue gently, the trio that determines both comfort and results.
Grafting stops recession in its tracks, relieves the root sensitivity that makes cold drinks a hazard, guards exposed roots against decay, which advances faster on root surfaces than enamel, and restores a healthier, more even smile line. It also thickens fragile tissue so recession does not simply resume next year. For teeth that looked increasingly long in the mirror, the cosmetic restoration is often as gratifying as the protection.
Gum Grafting in Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, CA | RB Dental Arts
Restore receding gums and protect exposed roots for the long term.
If your teeth look longer than they used to, feel sensitive near the gumline, or your dentist has tracked worsening recession measurements year over year, grafting protects what remains before more is lost. Aggressive brushing, grinding, thin natural tissue, and past gum disease are the usual culprits, and we address the cause alongside the graft so the repair lasts. Watchful waiting has a cost here: recession only moves one direction on its own.
Comfort has come a long way in this procedure, and most of our Rancho Bernardo patients are genuinely surprised: the surgical visit is thoroughly numbed and calm, and the week after is managed easily with over the counter relief and sensible eating. Donor tissue options mean many patients avoid a palate site entirely. Within weeks, the graft blends into your natural gumline, sensitivity fades, and the mirror shows proportions you had forgotten.
The procedure takes about 60 to 90 minutes depending on how many sites are treated. Initial healing runs one to two weeks, with most patients back to work in one to two days, and the graft fully integrates and matures over four to six weeks. Final tissue contours settle across a few months. Follow up visits confirm integration, and long term success is then guarded by soft brushing habits and your regular maintenance rhythm.
The first two weeks protect the graft: no brushing directly at the surgical site, use the prescribed rinse instead, no pulling your lip to inspect the area, tempting as it is, and stick to a soft, cool diet the first several days. Smoking meaningfully impairs graft survival and should pause well beyond surgery. Address the original cause, switch to a soft or electric brush with gentle pressure, wear your night guard if grinding contributed. We quote costs and insurance coverage precisely beforehand.
Expect mild to moderate soreness for three to five days, well controlled with over the counter relief, and minor swelling that peaks early and fades within a week. Eat soft and cool foods initially, avoid chewing at the site, and skip strenuous exercise for a few days. If tissue came from your palate, that site feels like a pizza burn for about a week; a simple guard we provide makes it comfortable. Most patients call the whole recovery easier than they feared.
