How Much Does a Gum Graft Cost?

Updated on June 29, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 3 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

A gum graft usually costs about $600 to $1,200 per tooth or small treatment area without insurance. More complex cases can cost $1,500 to $3,500+ per area when several teeth are treated, donor tissue is used, sedation is added, or a periodontist has to correct deeper gum recession around exposed roots.

With dental insurance, the out-of-pocket cost may drop to $200 to $1,000+ per area if the graft is medically necessary to treat gum recession, root exposure, sensitivity, loss of keratinized tissue, or periodontal damage. Cosmetic gum reshaping, smile-line changes, and elective contouring are less likely to be covered.

A gum graft is a soft-tissue graft, not a dental bone graft. It is used to rebuild gum tissue around teeth with receding gums or exposed roots. A dental bone graft adds bone to the jaw, often for an implant, socket preservation, ridge augmentation, or periodontal bone defect. The two procedures are related in dentistry, but they solve different problems and should be priced separately.

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• One tooth or small area: Most gum grafts cost about $600 to $1,200 (at $30 per hour, earning that amount would take about 0.5 to 1 full-time workweeks, before taxes) without insurance.
• Several teeth: Multi-tooth gum grafting can cost $1,500 to $3,500+ per area or visit.
• Donor tissue or AlloDerm: Acellular dermal matrix and other donor-tissue options can raise the material fee.
• Before the graft: Consultation, periodontal exam, X-rays, deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, or infection control may add to the bill.
• Insurance: Coverage is more likely when the graft protects exposed roots or prevents further periodontal damage, not when it is purely cosmetic.

Gum Graft Cost By Procedure Type

The price depends on how many teeth are involved, where the recession is located, how much root coverage is needed, and which graft technique the periodontist uses. Front teeth, lower incisors, canine roots, molars, implant areas, and hard-to-reach sites can all price differently.

Verywell Health describes gum graft surgery as a procedure used to correct gum recession by transferring gum tissue from one area to another, often to protect exposed tooth roots or improve oral health. Its gum graft surgery guide places typical cost around $600 to $1,200 (about 0.5 to 1 full-time workweeks at $30 per hour) per tooth or small area without insurance.

Gum graft service	Typical cost	What it usually covers
Small gum graft around one tooth	$600 to $1,200	One tooth or small area of gum recession
Two to four nearby teeth	$1,200 to $3,500+	Larger recession area, more suturing, longer surgical time
Connective tissue graft	$700 to $2,500+	Tissue taken from under the palate surface and moved to the recession site
Free gingival graft	$700 to $2,500+	Palate tissue used to thicken thin gum tissue or increase attached gum
Pedicle graft	$700 to $2,000+	Nearby gum tissue repositioned when enough tissue is available
AlloDerm or donor-tissue graft	$1,000 to $3,500+	Acellular dermal matrix or processed donor tissue, often with added material fee
Gum graft with sedation	$1,200 to $4,000+	Procedure plus nitrous oxide, oral sedation, or IV sedation when used
Cosmetic gum contouring added	$1,000 to $3,000+	Smile-line reshaping, excess gum removal, or cosmetic gingival sculpting

A realistic one-tooth example may include $150 for a consultation, $200 for X-rays and periodontal charting, $950 for a connective tissue graft, and $100 for medications or follow-up costs. The total is about $1,400 before insurance. A four-tooth case with donor tissue and sedation can move past $3,000.

What A Gum Graft Is

A gum graft is a periodontal plastic surgery procedure used to treat gum recession. Gum recession happens when the gum tissue pulls away from the tooth and exposes part of the root surface. Exposed roots can cause sensitivity, higher cavity risk on the root, cosmetic changes, longer-looking teeth, and more plaque retention near the gumline.

The graft adds tissue to the area where the gum has receded. The tissue may come from the roof of the mouth, from nearby gum tissue, or from processed donor material. The periodontist sutures the graft into place so it can heal into the recipient site and create a thicker band of protective gum tissue.

Health.com describes gum grafting as a common procedure for gum recession that transfers tissue from the patient or a donor to protect teeth and jawbone and reduce sensitivity. Its gum graft recovery guide says the procedure is usually done with local anesthesia and that full tissue integration can take weeks.

Why Gum Recession Changes The Price

Gum graft cost is not based only on the number of teeth. The depth and width of recession matter. A small isolated recession on one canine is easier to treat than recession across several lower front teeth with thin tissue, shallow vestibule, frenum pull, bone loss, crowding, or periodontal pockets.

The periodontist also looks at keratinized tissue, attached gingiva, root shape, tooth position, gum biotype, bone support, plaque control, brushing trauma, grinding, orthodontic movement, tobacco use, diabetes control, and active periodontal disease. These factors affect whether the graft is predictable and whether another treatment is needed first.

Root coverage is not always complete. Some grafts are done to thicken tissue and stop recession from getting worse, not to make the gumline look exactly like it did before. The more cosmetic the goal, the more important it is to ask what result is realistic before paying for surgery.

Types Of Gum Grafts

A connective tissue graft is one of the most common options for root coverage. The periodontist opens a small flap in the palate, removes connective tissue from beneath the surface, and sutures that tissue over the exposed root area. The palate site is closed with sutures, and the graft site heals around the tooth.

A free gingival graft also uses tissue from the palate, but it takes a thin piece of surface tissue. It is often used when the goal is to increase the amount of firm attached gum tissue, especially around lower front teeth or areas with very thin gum.

A pedicle graft uses tissue next to the affected tooth. The tissue stays partly attached and is moved over the exposed root. This can work well when there is enough nearby gum tissue, but it is not available for every case.

An AlloDerm graft or acellular dermal matrix graft uses processed donor tissue rather than tissue taken from the patient’s palate. This can reduce the need for a second surgical wound, but it may add a material fee. Some offices use other allograft, collagen matrix, or biologic materials depending on the case.

Extra Costs Before Surgery

The gum graft itself may not be the first bill. The periodontist may need a comprehensive periodontal exam, full-mouth periodontal charting, intraoral photos, bite evaluation, X-rays, cone beam CT in select cases, plaque-control review, and a treatment plan. A consultation and imaging visit can add $150 to $500+ (about 0.6 to 2.1 full-time workdays at $30 per hour).

If gum disease is active, the office may recommend scaling and root planing before surgery. Scaling and root planing removes plaque and calculus above and below the gumline and smooths the roots. Verywell Health describes it as a deep cleaning used for chronic periodontal disease through its scaling and root planing guide.

Deep cleaning, periodontal maintenance, antibiotics, occlusal adjustment, night guard therapy, desensitizing treatment, or smoking cessation may be discussed before the graft. A graft placed into an inflamed or poorly cleaned area has a higher risk of poor healing.

Anesthesia, Sedation, And Medication 

Most gum grafts are done with local anesthesia. That means the area is numbed, but the patient is awake. Local anesthesia is usually included in the surgical fee or billed as part of the procedure.

Nitrous oxide, oral sedation, or IV sedation can raise the price. Nitrous oxide may add $50 to $150+. Oral sedation may add $150 to $500+. IV sedation can add $500 to $1,500+, depending on the office, monitoring, provider, and length of surgery.

Medication costs are usually smaller but still real. The patient may need prescription pain medication, antibacterial mouth rinse, antibiotics in some cases, anti-inflammatory medicine, or sensitivity products. These may add $20 to $150+, depending on insurance and pharmacy pricing.

Insurance Coverage

Dental insurance may cover part of a gum graft when the procedure is medically necessary. Medical necessity may involve exposed roots, progressive recession, root sensitivity, loss of attached gingiva, periodontal defects, recession around a crown margin, or the need to protect a tooth from further damage.

Insurance is less likely to cover cosmetic gum contouring, smile-line reshaping, or grafting done mainly to improve appearance. Some plans cover periodontal surgery at a percentage after the deductible, while others have waiting periods, annual maximums, missing-tooth clauses, periodontal limitations, or frequency rules.

Ask the dental office to submit a pre-treatment estimate before surgery. The estimate should include procedure codes, tooth numbers, surfaces or areas treated, diagnosis, X-rays, periodontal charting, narrative, graft material, sedation, and expected insurance payment. Even with approval, the patient may still owe the deductible, coinsurance, noncovered material fees, or any amount above the plan maximum.

Gum Graft vs Dental Bone Graft

A gum graft and dental bone graft are not the same procedure. A gum graft adds soft tissue around teeth or implants. A dental bone graft adds bone or bone substitute material to the jaw. A gum graft treats gum recession, exposed roots, thin tissue, and root sensitivity. A dental bone graft treats missing bone, extraction sockets, implant preparation, ridge defects, sinus lift needs, or periodontal bone loss.

The procedures can be related. A patient with advanced periodontal disease may need deep cleaning, gum grafting, bone grafting, pocket reduction, or implant planning at different stages. But pricing them together can confuse the estimate because soft-tissue grafting and bone grafting use different materials, codes, healing goals, and surgical plans.

If your dentist is rebuilding jawbone for a future implant, compare this with the cost of a dental bone graft. If the main issue is receding gums or exposed roots, this gum graft cost guide is the better match.

Recovery Time And Aftercare Costs

Recovery depends on graft type, number of teeth, palate involvement, patient health, smoking, diabetes, oral hygiene, and whether the case was combined with another procedure. Health.com says discomfort, swelling, and tenderness are common after gum graft surgery, and that full tissue integration may take 4 to 12 weeks.

The first few days usually involve soft foods, cold foods, careful rinsing, avoiding brushing near the graft site, avoiding straws, avoiding smoking, and avoiding hard, crunchy, spicy, or acidic foods. The office may schedule one or more follow-up visits to check healing and remove sutures if non-dissolvable sutures were used.

Aftercare can add small costs for mouth rinse, medication, desensitizing toothpaste, soft food, time away from work, or transportation if sedation is used. A patient with a physical job, wind-instrument playing, heavy lifting, or athletic training may need to plan around healing instructions.

When A Gum Graft Is Worth It

A gum graft can be worth it when recession is getting worse, roots are exposed, sensitivity is persistent, the gum tissue is too thin, brushing is painful, the tooth is at higher risk of root decay, or the periodontist believes the tooth needs more attached tissue for long-term stability.

It may also be worth it before or after orthodontic treatment if teeth have moved through thin bone and gum tissue. Some patients need grafting around dental implants or implant crowns when tissue thickness, hygiene access, or appearance is a concern.

A graft may not be the first step if the recession is stable, shallow, easy to clean, and not causing symptoms. In some cases, changing brushing technique, using a soft toothbrush, treating gum disease, wearing a night guard, or monitoring the area may come before surgery.

Risks And Reasons it Can Fail

Gum graft surgery is common, but it is still surgery. Possible problems include bleeding, swelling, infection, pain, poor root coverage, graft movement, graft shrinkage, uneven gumline, sensitivity, scar-like color difference, or graft failure.

Smoking is one of the biggest healing risks. Poor plaque control, uncontrolled diabetes, active periodontal disease, grinding, aggressive brushing, and not following post-op instructions can also hurt the result. If the cause of recession is not fixed, the new gum tissue may recede again.

Call the periodontist if pain gets worse after the first few days, bleeding does not stop, swelling increases, pus appears, fever develops, sutures loosen early, the graft looks detached, or the area smells bad. Early follow-up can sometimes protect the graft.

How To Reduce The Cost

Start with a periodontal diagnosis. Paying for grafting before gum disease, plaque buildup, brushing trauma, clenching, or orthodontic forces are addressed can waste money. The graft is more likely to last when the cause of recession is controlled.

Ask whether several teeth can be treated in one surgical visit. The per-tooth price may drop when nearby teeth are treated together because the office uses one setup, one anesthesia visit, and one healing period.

Use dental insurance, a pre-treatment estimate, an FSA, an HSA, dental financing, or an in-office payment plan if available. Health Savings Account funds can often be used for medically necessary dental procedures, but the patient should check plan rules and keep receipts.

Get a second opinion if the quote is high or the plan is unclear. Ask whether the proposed procedure is connective tissue graft, free gingival graft, pedicle graft, donor-tissue graft, Pinhole Surgical Technique, gum contouring, or another periodontal procedure. The names matter because they are not priced the same.

Related Dental Costs

Some patients need periodontal treatment before gum grafting. If plaque, tartar, and gum pockets are part of the problem, compare the quote with dental cleaning costs and deep-cleaning fees before surgery.

Imaging is often part of the diagnosis. A periodontist may use bitewing X-rays, periapical X-rays, or panoramic imaging to look at bone levels and tooth roots. For broader imaging costs, see the guide to panoramic dental X-rays.

Recession sometimes appears around crowns, bridges, or repaired teeth. If a crown has come loose or needs to be reseated before periodontal work, compare the cost to reattach a crown.

Answers to Common Questions

How much does a gum graft cost for one tooth?

A gum graft for one tooth or a small area usually costs about $600 to $1,200 without insurance. The cost can rise if the case needs donor tissue, sedation, deep cleaning, or treatment by a periodontist in a high-cost area.

How much does a gum graft cost for multiple teeth?

Gum grafting for several nearby teeth often costs $1,500 to $3,500+. Larger full-arch or multi-area cases can cost more, especially when donor material, sedation, or several appointments are needed.

Does dental insurance cover gum graft surgery?

Dental insurance may cover part of the cost when the graft is medically necessary to treat gum recession, exposed roots, sensitivity, or periodontal risk. Cosmetic gum contouring and elective smile-line changes are less likely to be covered.

Is a gum graft painful?

The procedure is usually done with local anesthesia, so the surgical area is numb. Soreness, swelling, and tenderness are common afterward, especially if tissue is taken from the palate. Most patients manage recovery with the instructions and medication plan from the dental office.

How long does a gum graft take to heal?

Initial healing often takes a few weeks, while full tissue maturation can take 4 to 12 weeks or longer. The final gumline and tissue thickness may continue to settle over several months.

How long does a gum graft last?

A successful gum graft can last many years when the cause of recession is controlled. Aggressive brushing, gum disease, smoking, grinding, thin tissue, and poor plaque control can cause new recession.

Is AlloDerm cheaper than using palate tissue?

Not always. AlloDerm or another acellular dermal matrix can avoid a palate donor site, but the material fee can make the procedure more expensive. The best option depends on tissue needs, comfort, healing goals, and the periodontist’s plan.

Is gum grafting the same as gum contouring?

No. Gum grafting adds or repositions tissue to treat recession or root exposure. Gum contouring reshapes the gumline, often for cosmetic reasons. Some patients have both, but they are different procedures and may be billed separately.