Protect Exposed Roots and Strengthen Receding Gums
If your gums have pulled away from your teeth, you may notice exposed roots, increased sensitivity or teeth that appear longer than they used to.
At Shmile Dentist Bromley, we provide personalised gum graft treatment to strengthen thin or receding gum tissue, protect vulnerable tooth roots and improve the balance of your gum line.
Treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic by a dentist with advanced training in periodontology. We will carefully assess the cause of your gum recession and explain what gum grafting can realistically achieve in your individual case.
If you are main concern is excessive gum display rather than receding gums, explore our gummy-smile and crown-lengthening treatments.
Do You Have Receding Gums?
Gum recession occurs when the gum tissue surrounding a tooth moves away from its normal position, exposing more of the tooth or its root. Because the tooth root does not have the same protective enamel covering as the visible part of the tooth, it may become more sensitive and vulnerable to wear or decay.
What causes receding gums?
Gum recession is not always caused by poor oral hygiene. Contributing factors can include:
- Brushing too firmly
- Naturally thin gum tissue
- Previous gum disease
- Tooth position
- Previous orthodontic treatment
- Teeth grinding or excessive bite forces
- Smoking or vaping
Signs of gum recession include:
- A visible yellow or darker area near the gum line
- Sensitivity to cold drinks, hot foods or brushing
- Teeth that appear longer than neighbouring teeth
- A notch where the tooth meets the gum
- Thin or delicate-looking gum tissue
- An uneven gum line
- Recession following orthodontic treatment
Not every case requires gum graft surgery. Your assessment will help establish the cause and determine whether grafting, monitoring or another form of treatment is most appropriate.
How Does Gum Grafting Work?
Strengthening Thin and Receding Gums
A gum graft, also called a soft-tissue or gingival graft, adds healthy tissue to an area where the gum has become thin or receded.
The graft tissue is usually taken from the roof of the mouth, and carefully secured around the tooth area which will have the graft.
Depending on your condition, gum grafting may help to:
- Protect an exposed tooth root
- Reduce sensitivity
- Increase the thickness of the gum tissue
- Make the area more comfortable to clean
- Reduce the risk of further recession
- Improve the shape and symmetry of the gum line
Gum Graft Procedure at Shmile Dentist Bromley
Although each procedure is individually planned, gum graft treatment will usually involve the following stages.
1. Treatment Planning
We carefully plan the position and size of the graft based on your examination, measurements and treatment goals.
2. Local Anaesthetic
The treatment and donor areas are numbed with local anaesthetic to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure.
3. Preparing the Gum
The gum around the affected tooth is carefully prepared to create a stable area for the graft.
4. Collecting the Graft
Where your own tissue is used, a small amount is usually taken from the roof of your mouth.
5. Positioning the Tissue
The graft is placed over or around the area of recession and secured with fine stitches.
6. Protection and Aftercare
A protective dressing or healing plate may be provided where appropriate, together with detailed aftercare instructions.
Review Appointment
A follow-up appointment will be arranged to check healing and remove any non-dissolving stitches where required.
Treatment time:
A single area will commonly take around one hour, although this varies according to the number and position of the areas being treated.
Recovery After a Gum Graft
What to Expect During Gum Graft Healing
Some tenderness, swelling or discomfort is normal after gum graft surgery, particularly where tissue has been taken from the roof of the mouth.
This can usually be managed with appropriate pain relief and should gradually improve as the area heals.
Your treatment and aftercare may include:
- Detailed consultation and smile assessment
- Clinical photographs for planning
- Local anaesthetic for comfort
- Careful placement and securing of the graft
- Review and aftercare guidance
- Healing review appointments
Treatment is usually completed in a single visit.
During healing, you will also be advised to:
- Eat a soft diet for approximately one week
- Chew away from the treated area
- Avoid brushing or flossing directly over the graft
- Use a recommended mouthwash
- Avoid pulling your lip back to inspect the area
- Avoid smoking or vaping
- Avoid vigorous exercise for the first 24 hours
- Attend your scheduled review appointment
Initial healing takes around 1-2 weeks. The graft will continue to mature and strengthen over the following weeks and months.
What Our Patients Say about Shmile Dentist Bromley
Gum Graft Cost in Bromley
Gum grafting from £750 per area
- A reduced fee may apply where multiple teeth or areas are treated during the same procedure.
- The total cost will depend on the number of areas treated, the type and complexity of the graft, and whether gum reshaping is required.
Your dentist will confirm the exact cost following your assessment.
Gum Graft Assessment Fee - £60
The £60 assessment fee will be deducted from the cost of your gum graft treatment if you choose to proceed.
Your gum graft assessment includes:
- Gum-health examination
- Measurement of the recession
- Assessment of the surrounding gum and bone support
- Review of X-rays where clinically required
- Discussion of suitable treatment options
- Honest advice about the likely outcome
- Personalised treatment plan and written fee estimate
Gum Graft FAQs
Gum tissue that has been lost through recession does not normally grow back by itself. However, mild or stable recession may sometimes be managed by correcting brushing technique, improving oral hygiene and monitoring the area.
A gum graft may be recommended where additional tissue is needed to protect an exposed root or strengthen thin gums.
The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic, so the area will be numb during treatment.
Some tenderness or discomfort is normal afterwards, especially if tissue has been taken from the roof of the mouth. We will provide clear advice about pain relief and aftercare.
Complete root coverage may be possible in suitable cases, but it cannot be guaranteed.
The result depends on factors including the severity of the recession, the position of the tooth and the surrounding bone and gum support. We will explain the likely outcome during your assessment.
Covering or strengthening an exposed root may help reduce sensitivity to temperature, touch and brushing.
Sensitivity can have several causes, so we will examine the tooth before recommending treatment.
Initial healing commonly takes around one to two weeks, although the tissue will continue to mature for several weeks or months.
Your recovery time will depend on the grafting technique and the number of areas treated.
A successfully healed gum graft can provide a long-lasting improvement. Gentle brushing, good oral hygiene, regular reviews and managing the original cause of the recession will help protect the result.
Further recession can still occur, so results cannot be guaranteed permanently.
Book Your Gum Graft Assessment in Bromley
Concerned about receding gums, an exposed tooth root or increasing sensitivity?
Arrange a gum assessment at Shmile Dentist Bromley to find out whether gum graft treatment is suitable for you. Our dentist will carry out a full periodontal assessment.
