Gum Grafting

Gum Grafting in Boulder, CO

If your gums have pulled back and your teeth suddenly look longer, or a sip of cold water makes you wince, gum grafting fixes it. Dr. Ryan Koenig, known around here as Dr. K, and the team at Table Mesa Dental use a small amount of healthy tissue to cover the exposed root, calm the sensitivity, and stop the recession from creeping further. It's a same-day, in-office procedure, and with sedation available, most patients find it far less involved than they expected.

Receding gums don't grow back on their own. Once a root is exposed, it's more vulnerable to decay, wear, and continued tissue loss around the bone that holds your tooth in place. Grafting puts protection back where it belongs. Recession often starts with gum disease, so we'll check for that at the same visit and treat it alongside the graft. Give us a call at (303) 590-3992 or request an appointment and we'll take a look.

Quick Takeaways

• Sensitivity is usually the first clue. Cold air, cold drinks, or stinging near the gumline often means exposed root surface.
• Ask what's causing the recession. Aggressive brushing, grinding, gum disease, and bite forces each pull gums back differently, and the cause shapes the plan.
• Sedation is on the table. Nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation are all available through our sedation dentistry options, so anxiety doesn't have to delay this.
• Expect a soft-food stretch. Plan on one to two weeks of gentle eating and no brushing directly on the graft site.
• Earlier is easier. Grafting mild recession is a smaller procedure than grafting advanced recession, and it protects bone you can't get back.

How Gum Grafting Works

1. Exam, imaging, and a real conversation

We measure how much recession you have, check the bone underneath with cone beam imaging when it's warranted, and figure out why it's happening. If gum disease is part of the picture, we treat that first. If grinding or a heavy bite is driving it, we'll talk about that too, because covering the root without fixing the cause invites a repeat.

2. Getting you comfortable

The area is thoroughly numbed. If you'd rather not be fully present, we'll walk through your sedation options ahead of time and pick what fits. Dr. K has advanced training in IV sedation and oral surgery, so this isn't something we outsource or improvise.

3. Placing the graft

Depending on your situation, the tissue comes from the roof of your mouth or a donor graft. It's positioned over the exposed root and secured with fine sutures. It typically takes about an hour, sometimes less for a single tooth.

4. Healing and integration

Over the following weeks, the graft connects to the blood supply in the surrounding tissue and becomes your own gum. We'll see you for a short follow-up to check the site and remove sutures if they aren't the dissolving kind. If you have questions, reach out to our Boulder team and we'll walk you through it.

What Gum Grafting Actually Does for You

• Ends root sensitivity. Exposed root has no enamel over it. Cover it, and cold and sweet triggers usually settle down.
• Protects against root decay. Root surface is softer than enamel and decays faster. A graft puts a barrier back in place, and if decay has already started, it can be handled alongside the graft with restorative options like our same-day crowns.
• Stops recession from progressing. Thicker tissue resists further pullback far better than a thin, worn gumline. When active infection is driving the recession, gum disease treatment comes first so the graft has a stable foundation.
• Preserves the bone around your teeth. Gum recession and bone loss travel together. Protecting the tissue helps protect the support underneath, which matters if you ever need dental implants.
• Evens out your smile line. Teeth that looked long and uneven look proportional again, which matters a lot on upper front teeth.
• Buys your tooth decades. Untreated recession can eventually loosen a tooth. Grafting is the far less dramatic fork in the road, and if the procedure makes you uneasy, ask us about sedation dentistry.

Who Gum Grafting Is Right For

You're likely a good candidate if you have visible recession on one or several teeth, notable sensitivity at the gumline, thin gum tissue, or a tooth root starting to notch or wear. It's also commonly recommended before or alongside orthodontic treatment like Clear Aligners, since moving teeth through thin tissue can worsen recession.

Some situations call for something else first. If active gum disease is present, we'll treat that infection with gum disease treatment before grafting; new tissue doesn't hold up in an inflamed environment. Heavy smoking reduces graft success, and we'll discuss that before scheduling. If recession is very mild with no sensitivity and no progression, the better call may be monitoring it at your regular general dentistry visits, adjusting your brushing technique, and protecting the area with a nightguard if grinding is the culprit. We'll tell you when waiting is the smarter option.

Timeline and What to Expect

• Consultation visit: exam, imaging, measurements, and a written treatment plan with costs before you commit. Reach out to our Boulder office when you're ready to schedule that first visit.
• Procedure visit: usually one appointment, roughly one to two hours depending on how many teeth are involved and whether you're sedated. If nerves are part of the picture, ask us about sedation options ahead of time.
• First 48 hours: mild soreness and some swelling, managed well with over-the-counter medication for most people.
• Week one to two: soft foods, no brushing on the site, and healing tissue that may look pale or blotchy before it pinks up. This is normal.
• Follow-up at one to two weeks: we check the graft and handle sutures.
• Six to eight weeks: tissue is largely matured, with color and contour refining for a few months after. From there, you're back to routine preventive care to keep results stable.

Preparing for the Procedure and Caring for the Result

Beforehand, eat a normal meal unless you're having IV sedation, in which case we'll give you fasting instructions and you'll need a ride home. Bring your medication list. If you're on a blood thinner, tell us early so we can coordinate. Stock your kitchen with yogurt, eggs, smoothies, and soup ahead of time.

Afterward, the rules are simple and they matter: no poking, pulling your lip out to inspect it, or brushing the graft site until we clear you. Skip straws, hot liquids, and anything crunchy or seedy for the first several days. Rinse gently with whatever we prescribe rather than swishing hard. Keep exercise light for a few days so you don't raise blood pressure at the site. Once healing is underway, we'll show you a gentler brushing technique so the recession doesn't return, and we'll fold that into your regular checkups and cleanings. Questions before your appointment? Reach out to our Boulder team and we'll walk you through it.

Cost and Payment

The cost of gum grafting depends on how many teeth need coverage, whether we use your own tissue or donor tissue, whether gum disease treatment is needed first, and what level of sedation you choose. Because those variables change the number considerably, we don't quote a flat price online. You'll get a specific written estimate at your consultation, before anything is scheduled.

Many dental plans cover some grafting when it treats recession that threatens tooth health, and our front desk will help you understand your benefits and out-of-pocket portion. We accept a range of insurance plans and also offer an in-house membership plan for patients without coverage. Transparency about money is part of how we practice. No surprise bills after the fact. Want the details before you come in? Reach out to our Boulder office and we'll walk you through it.

Why Patients Choose Table Mesa Dental for Gum Grafting

Dr. K brings more than twenty years of dentistry to this, with advanced training in oral surgery, implants, IV sedation, and full-mouth reconstruction, plus over 1,000 hours of continuing education. He earned his DMD from Nova Southeastern University and was named Best Dentist in Longmont from 2013 through 2022. Soft tissue surgery is squarely in his wheelhouse, not something we refer out.

Just as important is how the visit feels. Our team leads with empathy first, technology second, and we've built the office in south Boulder to feel calm rather than clinical. Cone beam imaging gives us a clear picture of the bone before we touch anything. Sedation options mean nervous patients get treated instead of postponing for another five years. And because we handle preventive, restorative, and surgical care under one roof, your grafting fits into the rest of your care without bouncing between offices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does gum grafting hurt?

During the procedure, no. The area is fully numb, and sedation is available if you want it. Afterward, most patients describe soreness rather than pain, more noticeable at the palate donor site than at the graft itself. Over-the-counter medication handles it for most people.

Will my gums grow back without surgery?

Gum tissue that has receded does not regenerate on its own. You can slow or stop further recession with gentler brushing, treating gum disease, and protecting against grinding, but restoring lost coverage over the root requires a graft.

Do you have to take tissue from the roof of my mouth?

Not always. Donor tissue is an option in many cases and avoids a second surgical site, which shortens recovery. What we recommend depends on how much tissue thickness you need and where the recession is. We'll explain the tradeoffs at your consultation.

How long do the results last?

Grafts are designed to be permanent, and the tissue becomes part of your own gum. Longevity depends on what happens next: brushing technique, controlling gum disease, managing grinding, and keeping up with cleanings. Address the cause and results hold for decades.

Can I get gum grafting on more than one tooth at a time?

Yes. Treating adjacent teeth in a single appointment is common and often more efficient, since you go through one healing period instead of several.

What happens if I just leave it alone?

Recession usually continues, slowly. Sensitivity tends to worsen, root decay becomes more likely, and the bone supporting the tooth can recede with the tissue. By then the fix is bigger and the options narrow.

Let's Take a Look

If your gums are pulling back, sensitivity is getting worse, or you've been told at a cleaning that you have recession and aren't sure what to do about it, come in and let us assess it. Depending on what we find, that conversation might cover gum disease treatment, gum grafting, or simply a closer eye on things at your regular visits. If dental appointments make you anxious, we can talk through sedation options first. You'll leave knowing what's happening, what your options are, and what it costs, whether or not you move forward.

Call Table Mesa Dental at (303) 590-3992 or request an appointment online. We're at 603 South Broadway in south Boulder, open Monday through Thursday from 8 to 4 and Friday until 2.