Gingival recession is when the gumline sits lower down the root of the tooth than it should. It happens for many reasons, but most often affects people with naturally thin, delicate gum tissue. Where recession is causing sensitivity, root exposure or concern about your smile, soft tissue grafting can restore and protect the gumline.
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What causes gum recession?
Recession mainly occurs in people with thin, delicate tissues, and can be made worse by a number of factors:
Why treat gum recession?
Your gums act as a seal around the teeth, protecting the underlying root from damage. Treating recession has several benefits:
How will I feel afterwards?
Most patients feel minimal symptoms after soft tissue grafting. Occasionally the palate can feel a little tender, so we provide a protective stent to wear for the first few days to keep you comfortable while eating and drinking. The mouth tends to heal very quickly, and most patients feel back to normal within around two weeks.
Common questions
Treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic, so you won’t feel discomfort during the procedure. Any tenderness afterwards — usually around the palate — is mild and eased by the protective stent we provide.
No. As well as improving the look of your smile, grafting protects exposed roots from sensitivity, wear and decay, and helps stop the recession getting worse — so there’s a real health benefit too.
Soft tissue grafting
Under local anaesthetic, a flap of tissue is gently raised and mobilised around the affected tooth, then repositioned upwards to cover the exposed root and secured in place.
A soft tissue graft is placed beneath — or sometimes over — the gum to increase its thickness, ensuring the new gum position stays stable for the long term. The graft is usually taken from a donor site on the palate, though suitable alternatives can be used in selected cases.
Before & After
Gingival recession – Patient A
Gingival recession – Patient B
Gingival recession – Patient C
Treating recession early protects the tooth as well as the smile – my aim is always a stable, natural result that lasts.
If you’ve noticed your gums receding, or you have sensitivity from exposed roots, the first step is a consultation. Dr Mairi will assess the recession and talk you through the best option for you.
Prices from £749
Root coverage procedure, dependent on the number of teeth and the extent of recession. A clear breakdown of costs is provided before any treatment begins.
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