Gum Grafting Treatment in San Diego, CA | DNTL

Gum Grafting in San Diego at DNTL

Maybe your teeth look longer than they used to. Maybe cold water makes you flinch. Or maybe a hygienist measured your gumline, paused, and said the words "gum graft." If any of that sounds familiar, then you're probably going through gum recession, and a graft is the procedure that fixes it. It covers exposed tooth roots, rebuilds the band of healthy tissue that has worn away, and stops recession from progressing further.

At DNTL, gum grafting is part of the periodontal care Dr. Weatherington performs every week in our San Diego office, alongside Dr. Grillo, Dr. Lum, and the rest of our specialist team.

It's done under local anesthesia, and it does two things at once: it stops recession from taking more ground, and it restores a gumline that looks and functions the way it should. When recession has also affected the bone underneath, we can plan bone grafting or gum contouring as part of the same treatment sequence.

Call us at (858) 755-9810 and we'll take a proper look.

Key Takeaways

• We use several graft techniques, including connective tissue, free gingival, and pedicle grafts, plus the minimally invasive Pinhole approach, matched to your anatomy rather than defaulting to one.
• At your consult we'll tell you two things up front: which technique fits your recession pattern, and whether we'll need a donor site on your palate. Both shape your recovery.
• Plan on roughly one to two weeks of taking it easy, with tissue continuing to mature for several months after.
• If a crown, veneer, or implant is in your future, grafting often comes first so the restoration sits against stable tissue.
• No referral is needed. We review your fee estimate with you before treatment is scheduled.

How Gum Grafting Works, Step by Step

1. Consultation and digital imaging

We measure the recession tooth by tooth and look below the surface with cone beam 3D imaging and impression-less intraoral scanners, so there's no tray of goop involved. That gives us root position, bone levels, and tissue thickness before anyone decides on a technique. You'll see the same images we're looking at.

2. Choosing the technique

Recession pattern, tissue quality, how many teeth are involved, and how visible the area is when you smile all factor in. If recession traces back to active infection, gum disease treatment comes first. A single receded canine and four adjacent teeth with thin tissue call for different approaches.

3. Numbing and preparing the site

Local anesthesia goes in first, and we don't start until you're fully numb. The receded area is gently cleaned and prepared so the new tissue has a healthy surface to attach to. You'll feel pressure and movement, not pain.

4. Placing the graft

Tissue is either taken from your palate, borrowed from gum next door and slid into position, or repositioned through a tiny access point. It's then secured over the exposed root to knit into place. Dr. Weatherington, our periodontist, handles these cases.

5. Instructions before you leave

We go through aftercare with you while you're still in the chair. You'll leave knowing what to eat, what to avoid, and when we'll see you back.

The Graft Techniques We Use

Four approaches cover nearly every case, and they aren't interchangeable.

Connective tissue graft

Tissue is taken from just beneath the surface of your palate and tucked in at the recession site. This is the workhorse for covering exposed roots, and it blends beautifully with surrounding gum because the surface layer of the palate stays intact.

Free gingival graft

A thin strip is taken from the surface of the palate and placed at the treatment site. We reach for this when the goal is to thicken a dangerously thin band of attached gum rather than cover a root, often on lower front teeth.

Pedicle graft

No separate donor site. Gum tissue right next to the recession is partially freed, then rotated or slid over the exposed root, keeping its own blood supply attached. It works well when there's generous healthy tissue neighboring the problem area.

Pinhole technique

A minimally invasive option that loosens and repositions your existing gum tissue through a small entry point, with no scalpel incisions or sutures at the site. Often a good fit when several teeth need coverage in one sitting and tissue quality supports it.

Which technique fits you depends on why the recession happened and how much healthy tissue you have to work with. Dr. Weatherington, our periodontist, makes that call after examining the site. And because our periodontal, implant, and restorative care all happens in one San Diego office, grafting can be sequenced alongside bone and sinus grafting or crown work without sending you elsewhere.

What Grafting Actually Does for You

• Cold drinks stop hurting. Exposed root surfaces have no enamel over them, so covering them is usually the fastest route to iced coffee without the wince.
• Roots get shielded from decay and wear. Root surface is softer than the enamel on the crown of the tooth, which means it abrades under a toothbrush and picks up decay far more readily than the rest of the tooth; new tissue puts a durable layer back over it.
• Recession stops advancing. A thicker, attached band of gum resists further pull-back far better than thin tissue does. When recession traces back to active infection, gum disease treatment comes first so the graft has healthy ground to heal into.
• Your gumline looks even again. Teeth stop looking long, and the scalloped line across your smile regains its symmetry.
• If a crown, veneer, or implant is coming, the graft protects that investment. Restorations seat against a stable margin instead of one that keeps moving, so veneers and dental implants hold up longer.
• You keep more of your own bone and teeth. Recession left alone can progress toward loose teeth.

Who Gum Grafting Is Right For

Most people who benefit recognize themselves in at least one of these:

• Gums have pulled back far enough to expose root surface on one or more teeth
• Sharp cold, heat, or pressure sensitivity traced to exposed roots rather than decay
• An uneven gumline that bothers you when you look in the mirror
• Recession flagged at a routine exam with a recommendation to follow up
• Planned restorative or implant work where there isn't enough healthy tissue to support it yet

Grafting isn't always the immediate answer. If active gum disease is present, we treat the infection first with periodontal therapy, because placing new tissue into an inflamed environment sets it up to fail. If a heavy bite or nighttime grinding is driving the recession, that gets addressed alongside the graft or the same forces will undo the work.

Smoking meaningfully compromises healing, and we'll talk that through with you. For very mild recession with no sensitivity and no restorative plans, monitoring with a change in brushing technique is sometimes the right call for now. Schedule a consultation and we'll tell you which category you fall into.

Timeline and What to Expect For Gum Grafting Treatment

Consultation visit

Exam, imaging, technique recommendation, and your fee estimate. Usually an hour or so, and you leave with a written plan. Because our periodontist and prosthodontists practice together, the plan accounts for any restorative work that follows the graft.

Surgery day

Chair time depends on how many sites we're treating; a single tooth is considerably quicker than a quadrant. We'll give you a realistic estimate at consultation, and we can talk through sedation options if you'd rather not be fully alert for the procedure.

Days one through five

The most restrictive stretch. Expect swelling and tenderness at the graft site and, if tissue was taken from your palate, there too. Most people are comfortable with over-the-counter pain relief.

Week one to two

Discomfort becomes intermittent and the tissue starts to settle. You'll come back so we can check how the graft is taking. Desk work is usually fine within a few days.

Months one through six

The graft matures, softens, and blends into neighboring gum. Color and contour keep improving well past the point where you feel normal, so what you see at two weeks isn't the finished result. If recession was driven by active gum disease, we'll keep monitoring that alongside the graft.

Preparing for Surgery and Caring for the Result

Before your appointment

• Eat a normal meal before you come in.
• Arrange a ride if we've planned sedation.
• Tell us about every medication and supplement you take (blood thinners and certain supplements matter here).
• Stock the fridge with soft food ahead of time.

After your appointment, for the first week or so

• Stick to soft, cool foods. Yogurt, eggs, smoothies eaten with a spoon, and anything mashed.
• No straws, no smoking, no vigorous rinsing. Suction and negative pressure can dislodge a healing graft.
• Cold compresses on and off during the first couple of days help with swelling.
• Don't brush or floss the surgical site until we clear you. Clean everywhere else normally and use any rinse we prescribe.

Long term care

Keeping the result comes down to a soft-bristled brush, a light hand, and regular periodontal maintenance visits. Aggressive scrubbing is one of the most common causes of recession, and we'll show you how to adjust. Questions before or after surgery? Call our San Diego office at (858) 755-9810.

What About Cost & Payment?

Cost depends on the technique, how many teeth are treated, whether a donor site is involved, and overall complexity. There's no single figure that applies to everyone, so we build you a personalized estimate before anything is scheduled. You'll never be in the dark about fees before treatment begins.

Periodontal surgery is frequently covered in part by dental insurance when clinically indicated, and we're a Delta Dental provider. Our team reviews your benefits, explains what your plan will and won't cover, and works to maximize what you're entitled to.

Payment is due at the time of service, and we offer financing through Cherry for patients who want more flexibility. Questions about a specific procedure?

Call us at (858) 755-9810 or read more about gum disease treatment, gum grafting, and dental implants to see how these treatments fit together.

Why Patients Choose DNTL for Gum Grafting

We started as a restorative group practice with three operatories and one doctor. What we kept running into was the referral problem: surgical needs we had to send out, treatment plans handed off between offices that didn't talk to each other. So we grew into what we are now, sixteen operatories on Lusk Boulevard with four specialists across prosthodontics, periodontics, and endodontics, all in one building.

For a gum graft, that structure matters. Dr. Weatherington, our periodontist, plans your periodontal surgery with the prosthodontist who will eventually place your crown or implant already in the conversation, so the tissue is shaped for the restoration from day one instead of being reworked later.

Add cone beam imaging, 3D facial scanning, digital scanners that skip impression trays entirely, and 3D-printed surgical guides, and the plan you get is built on your actual anatomy rather than a template.

Patients across San Diego come to us because they want detailed answers and a practice that treats artistry and engineering as the same job. It's why a graft here is planned with the crown in mind, in the same building, by specialists who review each other's cases every week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a gum graft hurt?

Not during the procedure. Local anesthesia handles that completely, and what you feel is pressure and movement. Afterward, expect soreness for several days, most noticeably at the palate if tissue was taken from there. Over-the-counter pain relief is enough for most people.

How long is recovery from gum graft surgery?

You'll feel meaningfully better inside one to two weeks and back to normal eating and activity around then. The tissue keeps maturing and blending for several months, which is when final appearance settles.

Can receding gums grow back without surgery?

Gum tissue doesn't regenerate on its own once it has receded. Good brushing technique, treating gum disease, and managing grinding can stop recession from worsening, but replacing lost tissue over an exposed root requires a graft.

How do I know which type of graft I need?

That comes out of your evaluation with Dr. Weatherington. We look at how much root is exposed, how thick the surrounding tissue is, how many teeth are affected, how visible the area is, and what restorative work may follow. Having all four techniques available means the recommendation follows your anatomy.

Can I go back to work the next day?

Most people with desk jobs do. If your work is physical or involves heavy lifting, give yourself a day or two.

What happens if I leave gum recession untreated?

It generally progresses: more sensitivity, root surfaces that decay and abrade more easily, bone loss around the tooth, and in advanced cases loose teeth. Treating it earlier means a smaller procedure. Contact our San Diego office at (858) 755-9810 to schedule an evaluation.

Let's Take a Look at Your Gumline

If sensitivity or a changing gumline has been nagging at you, come see us and get real numbers instead of guesses.

Dr. Weatherington and the DNTL team will examine what's happening, show you the imaging from our 3D imaging and digital scanning, explain which gum grafting technique fits your situation and why, and go over cost before you commit to anything. If your recession traces back to gum disease, we'll address that first.

Call us at (858) 755-9810 to schedule at our San Diego office on Lusk Boulevard, Monday through Friday. No referral needed, and new patients are always welcome.