Gum Tissue Graft Cost

Typical costs:

• A gum tissue graft can cost $600-$1,200 for a single procedure at the base of one tooth or in a specific small area, depending the extent of the gum recession, the type of tissue used (from the patient's mouth or a tissue bank) and the periodontist[2] (gum specialist) or dentist. Grafts using material from a tissue bank (the tissue is taken from cadavers) typically cost more than those done with tissue harvested from elsewhere in the patient's mouth.
• Gum contouring -- trimming the gums into a more pleasing appearance -- may be performed at the same time as a tissue graft, bringing the total cost to $1,000-$3,000 per area.

• A gum graft is typically done in the office of a periodontist, although some dentists also perform this procedure. The doctor will numb the area and in some cases provide a mild sedative to relax the patient; general anesthesia may be used with an anxious patient, but isn't common. A small cut is made at the graft site to create a sort of pocket or tunnel, the graft tissue is placed inside this tunnel and the area is stitched to close it. WebMD provides an overview of gum tissue grafts[3] .
• If the graft tissue was harvested from the patient's mouth, the area may be covered with a sort of putty until the stitches are removed, or the patient may be given a mouth guard (also called a stent) to wear that covers most of the roof of the mouth to help prevent bleeding, to stop the patient's tongue from playing with the stitches and to keep food from getting into the site.
• Patients are advised to avoid strenuous or aerobic activity for several days after a gum tissue graft, but most people are able to return to work within a day or two. If the procedure used tissue from a tissue bank there is usually mild to moderate discomfort and healing takes about two to four days. If the graft tissue was harvested from the roof of the patient's mouth the discomfort can be moderate to severe, and healing might take seven to 10 days. A Texas periodontal group explains what to expect after tissue graft surgery[4] .

• Treatment for gum disease usually begins with a periodontal diagnosis exam and X-Rays, which can cost an additional $150-$400 if not included in the quoted price.

• The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research lists tips for finding low-cost dental care[5] .
• Dental school clinics[6] offer reduced rates for services by supervised students or faculty.

• If the patient has dental insurance, the insurance company will provide a list of approved dentists and periodontists. Or search for local members of the American Dental Association[7] , American Academy of Periodontology[8] or the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists[9]
• A dentist will typically provide a referral to local periodontists. When selecting a periodontist, ask about length of time in practice, recent training and treatment philosophies (some favor more conservative non-surgical procedures while others treat periodontal disease aggressively with surgery). YourDentistryGuide.com provides tips for choosing a periodontist[10] .

1.  www.perio.org/consumer/grafts.htm
2.  www.perio.org/consumer/periodontist2.htm
3.  www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/gum-tissue-graft-surgery
4.  www.ntxpa.com/pages/post_softtiss.htm
5.  www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/popularpublications/findinglowcostdentalcare/
6.  www.ada.org/267.aspx
7.  www.mouthhealthy.org/en/find-a-dentist.aspx
8.  www.perio.org/?q=locator-advanced
9.  www.aacd.com/index.php?module=aacd.websiteforms&cmd=memberreferral
10.  www.yourdentistryguide.com/periodontists/

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