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If you have receding gums and you’re concerned about the aesthetics or sensitivity you may be considering a gum graft to cover exposed roots with donor tissue. One of the main considerations in getting any treatment, including a gum graft will be the cost. So, how much does gum grafting cost?
The average cost for a small area (one tooth) to be treated is between USD 700 and 2000. However, the exact price will depend on many factors including where you live, the gum grafting procedure selected as well as the extent and severity of the gum recession.
In this post, the expert dentists here at the Gum Disease Guide discuss these factors and the cost of gum grafting.
How To Find Out The Cost of Gum Grafting
There are many factors, which we discuss below that affect how much a gum grafting will cost to repair your gum recession. This means that we can’t give you an exact price for your treatment. The best way to find this out is to book a consultation with a periodontist.
During the consultation, a thorough examination and assessment of your teeth, gums, and overall health will be made. This will determine if you’re a suitable candidate and also the procedure that your gums will be most suited to.
They will consider
- The extent and severity of gum recession
- The thickness of the remaining tissue
- Cause of your gum recession
- Tooth dimensions
- Structure of underlying bone
- Condition of the root surface
- Oral hygiene
- Use of nicotine, alcohol, drugs, etc
After this assessment, they will give you an estimate of the costs.
Factors Affecting How Much Gum Grafting Costs
The price can vary widely depending on several factors including:
The Extent of Gum Recession
As the number of teeth requiring gum grafting increases so does the price. The more areas requiring treatment, the longer the procedure will take – this will be reflected in the cost.
Grafting Procedure Used
Several gum grafting procedures are available and the cost will reflect the procedure chosen to treat your gum recession.
- Pedicle Grafts – this technique uses gum tissue in an area adjacent to the area of recession. The tissue is stretched over the exposed root. This procedure has the advantage that there is only one surgical site.
- Connective tissue graft – this is the most common graft performed. It involves removing connective tissue from the roof of your mouth and using this tissue to cover the exposed root. A flap is made in the gum and the donor tissue is placed underneath. You will have two surgical sites.
- Free Gingival Graft – A small amount of tissue from the roof of your mouth or elsewhere in the gum to cover the exposed root. This type of surgery is most suited to those with thin gums. There will have two surgical sites.
- Alternative gum grafts – If a large area requires treatment it would take several grafts to treat so donor tissue can be transplanted instead. Tissue can be sourced from a cadaver (allograft) or an animal (xenograft). The advantage is you only have one large surgical site but sourcing donor tissue adds to the cost.
In general, a pedicle graft is the cheapest option, followed by a connective tissue graft and a gingival graft. Gum grafts involving donated tissue are the most expensive option.
Number of Surgeries
Sometimes gum grafts need to be done in two stages. This makes the procedure more expensive than a one-stage procedure.
Gum Contouring
Gum contouring is a procedure to trim the gums for a more aesthetic appearance. This can double the cost of treatment in some cases.
Other Factors
The price will also be reflected by the
- Skill and expertise of the dentist. The more experience and training your periodontist has the more expensive the treatment is. Don’t be tempted to go to an inexperienced dentist to save a few dollars as the treatment may have a higher risk of failure. It might be worth paying for a more experienced dentist to negate the risk of failure.
- Sutures and membranes – often resorbable membranes and sutures are used, but if non-resorbable materials are required an additional procedure will be required to remove them. Again this will be reflected in the cost.
- Dressings – the number required will have an impact on the cost
- Sedation – if you chose to be sedated the cost will be impacted by the type of sedation used
- Geographical area – dental holidays are an option for those looking for cheaper alternatives. Overseas dentists may not be regulated in the same way as they are in your home country. Their training and competence may not be assessed. What may look like an affordable solution might turn out to be more expensive if treatment fails or is done incorrectly.
What Does The Cost Of Gum Grafting Include?
The cost of your gum graft is likely to include the following.
- Cost of harvesting donor tissue
- Cost of placing grafted material and preparing the site for the graft
- Anesthesia and sedatives
- Clinic operating costs
- Staff – dentist, dental nurses etc
- X-rays and digital images
- Dressings & sutures,
- Antibacterial mouthwash and pain relief may be included
- Aftercare
- Practitioners insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to some of the more commonly asked questions about the cost.
Will Dental Insurance Pay for Gum Grafting?
It depends on your dental insurance plan. Some insurance policies may contribute to some or all of the costs.
If you require gum grafting for a medical reason, for example, to cover exposed roots and prevent bone or tooth loss the cost is often partially covered.
Gum grafts for cosmetic reasons are unlikely to be covered under the policy.
However, you will need to check with your provider if they will cover the treatment or not. The amount you need to contribute may depend on your policy and level of cover.
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Residents of the USA can use HSA and FSA as financial vehicles to offset out-of-pocket expenses in healthcare with tax benefits. These can be used as a payment option for gum grafting. Ask your dental clinic about using this option.
Are Financing Options Available
If the above payment options are not available to you, your dental clinic may offer financing options so you can spread the cost of gum grafting over several months.
So you don’t have to pay for your gum graft in one go; you’ll pay the same amount each month for a set period. Make sure you ask what the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is. 0% financing may be available.
Is There A Cheaper Alternative To Gum Grafting
Yes, if you’re not suitable for gum grafting or you would like a cheaper alternative there are several options. These include
- Tooth and gum-colored composite resin
- Pink porcelain
- Removable gingival veneers
- Desensitizing agents, varnishes, and dentine bonding agents to treat dentine hypersensitivity
- Orthodontics
Final Thoughts
The cost of gum grafting varies considerably. Many factors affect the price including the number of areas and the severity of your gum recession. The cost can also be influenced by the geographic area you reside, the expertise of the dentist, and if donor tissue needs to be sourced.
Of course, the best way to prevent gum recession is with oral hygiene at home which is first class. A major cause of gum recession is gum disease.

Sources
- How Much Does Gum Grafting Cost? (2022). Accessed 8/11/22
- Patel, M., Nixon, P. & Chan, MY. Gingival recession: part 3. Surgical management using free grafts and guided tissue regeneration. Br Dent J 211, 353–358 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.861. Accessed 8/11/22