Receding gums can’t grow back on their own, but a range of treatments can stop the process and restore lost tissue. The right approach depends on how far the recession has progressed: mild cases often respond to nonsurgical cleaning and better brushing habits, while moderate to severe recession typically requires a grafting procedure or other surgical fix. The national average cost for gum graft surgery is about $2,742 per procedure, though it can range from roughly $2,120 to nearly $5,000.
Why Gums Recede in the First Place
Gum recession happens when the tissue that hugs your teeth pulls away, exposing more of the tooth or even the root underneath. The most common triggers are brushing too hard, plaque and tartar buildup, periodontal (gum) disease, smoking or chewing tobacco, misaligned teeth, and oral piercings that rub against the gumline. Trauma or injury to the tissue can also cause it.
Some people are simply more prone to it. A genetic predisposition to thinner gum tissue means less of a buffer before recession becomes visible. If your parents dealt with receding gums, you’re more likely to as well, even with solid oral hygiene.
Stop the Damage With Better Brushing
If aggressive brushing is contributing to your recession, switching your technique can prevent it from getting worse. The Modified Bass method is the most widely recommended approach: hold your toothbrush at an angle so the bristles point toward your gumline, make short back-and-forth strokes, then sweep the brush away from the gum toward the edge of the tooth. This cleans effectively without grinding into sensitive tissue.
Use a soft-bristled brush and light pressure. If you’re pressing hard enough to splay the bristles, you’re pressing too hard. An electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor can help you recalibrate. These changes won’t reverse recession that’s already happened, but they’re essential for protecting whatever tissue you have left and for keeping any future treatment from failing.
Deep Cleaning as a First-Line Treatment
When gum disease is driving the recession, the first professional step is usually scaling and root planing, sometimes called a deep cleaning. This procedure goes below the gumline under local anesthesia to remove the bacteria-laden plaque and tartar that standard cleanings can’t reach. The root surfaces are then smoothed so gum tissue can reattach more easily.
Clinical studies show that scaling and root planing alone significantly reduces pocket depth (the gap between tooth and gum) and improves tissue attachment within about 45 days. For mild recession caused by gum disease, this may be the only treatment you need, followed by more frequent maintenance cleanings, typically every three to four months instead of six.
Gum Grafting for Moderate to Severe Recession
When enough tissue has been lost that the root is visibly exposed, grafting is the standard fix. A periodontist takes tissue from one area and uses it to rebuild the gumline where it’s receded. There are three main types, each suited to different situations.
Connective Tissue Grafts
This is the most common type. The periodontist takes a small piece of tissue from beneath the surface of the roof of your mouth and stitches it over the exposed root. It’s recommended for moderate to severe recession and is highly effective at covering exposed roots and increasing gum thickness. Results are predictable and long-lasting.
Free Gingival Grafts
Instead of tissue from beneath the surface, this graft uses tissue directly from the roof of the mouth. It’s best suited for people with naturally thin gums who need to build thickness and prevent future recession, rather than fully cover an exposed root. Healing at the donor site takes a bit longer, but the method is effective for strengthening a fragile gumline.
Pedicle Grafts
This option uses healthy gum tissue right next to the affected tooth. The periodontist partially cuts a flap of nearby tissue, rotates it over the recession, and stitches it in place. Because the tissue stays connected to its original blood supply, healing tends to be more comfortable than palate-based grafts. The catch is that you need enough healthy tissue adjacent to the recession for this to work. When conditions are right, cosmetic results are excellent.
Recovery from traditional gum grafting takes one to two weeks. You’ll eat soft foods, avoid brushing the surgical site, and manage discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers or a short prescription. Most people return to normal activities within a few days, though the site needs a couple of weeks to fully heal.
Less Invasive Alternatives to Grafting
Two newer options aim to treat recession with less cutting and faster recovery.
Pinhole Surgical Technique
Rather than cutting and stitching a graft, this method involves making a tiny hole in the gum tissue above the recession. The periodontist uses specialized instruments to loosen the existing tissue and guide it down over the exposed root, then places small collagen strips underneath to hold everything in position. There are no incisions, no sutures, and no donor site on the roof of your mouth.
The recovery difference is significant. While grafting requires one to two weeks of healing, patients who undergo the pinhole technique often feel recovered within a few days, with minimal discomfort. It’s a good option for people who need multiple teeth treated at once, since the procedure can address several areas in a single visit.
Laser Treatment (LANAP)
Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure uses targeted laser energy to remove diseased gum tissue and kill bacteria while leaving healthy tissue intact. The laser also stimulates the gums to regenerate and reattach to the tooth roots, and it can promote bone regeneration in areas where gum disease has caused bone loss. Compared to traditional gum surgery, which requires incisions and manual tissue removal, LANAP involves faster healing, less swelling, and less post-procedure discomfort.
What Full Recovery Looks Like
Dentists classify recession into categories that predict how much root coverage you can realistically expect from treatment. In the mildest cases, where the bone between teeth is intact and the recession hasn’t progressed too far, full root coverage is achievable. In the most advanced cases, where significant bone and soft tissue have been lost between teeth, complete coverage isn’t possible, and the goal shifts to stabilizing what’s left and preventing further loss.
Your periodontist will assess which category your recession falls into before recommending a treatment plan. This is important to understand upfront: not every case of recession can be fully reversed, even with surgery. Early treatment gives you the best chance of a complete cosmetic and functional result.
Costs and What Insurance Covers
Gum grafting averages about $2,742 nationally but can range from around $2,120 to nearly $5,000 depending on the number of teeth involved, the type of graft, and your geographic area. The pinhole technique and laser treatments may fall in a similar range, though pricing varies widely by provider.
Dental insurance often covers a portion of gum grafting when it’s deemed medically necessary (as opposed to purely cosmetic). Scaling and root planing is more consistently covered since it’s classified as a periodontal treatment. If you’re facing a large out-of-pocket cost, many periodontists offer payment plans or accept healthcare financing. Get a detailed treatment plan with cost estimates before committing, and ask your insurance provider exactly what percentage they’ll cover for periodontal surgery codes.
Protecting Your Gums After Treatment
Whatever treatment you receive, the same habits that caused the recession can cause it to come back. Stick with the Modified Bass brushing technique at gentle pressure. Floss daily. If you smoke, quitting is one of the most impactful things you can do for gum health, since tobacco restricts blood flow to the gums and accelerates tissue breakdown. Attend your recommended cleaning schedule, which after gum disease treatment is usually every three to four months rather than twice a year.
If teeth grinding is an issue, a custom night guard can protect both your teeth and the gumline from the repetitive force that drives recession. Misaligned teeth that create uneven pressure may benefit from orthodontic correction, which can reduce localized stress on vulnerable areas of tissue.