Soft Tissue Grafting · Washington, DC
Gum Grafting in Washington, DC
Soft tissue grafting designed to protect exposed roots, improve comfort, and support long-term periodontal stability.
Direct answer
Gum grafting is a soft tissue procedure that covers exposed tooth roots, increases the band of healthy gum tissue, and supports the long-term health of natural teeth or implants.
Why it matters: Untreated gum recession exposes roots, increases sensitivity, raises the risk of root cavities, and can compromise the bone underneath.
Why see a periodontist: Gum grafting requires specialized training in soft tissue surgery. Outcomes are highly technique-dependent.
Next step in DC: DC Perio performs gum grafting at both Washington, DC locations. The consultation evaluates the cause of recession (which often affects the choice of technique) and reviews your options.
When grafting is needed
Visible recession — teeth look longer than they used to, or roots are exposed.
Sensitivity to hot, cold, or brushing along the gum line.
Thin or fragile gum tissue that puts the underlying bone at risk.
Implant cases where there is not enough attached gum to support long-term implant health.
Graft options
Connective tissue graft from your own palate — the gold-standard for cases where bulk and stability matter.
Acellular dermal matrix (donor tissue) — useful when patients want to avoid a second surgical site on the palate.
Pinhole and tunnel techniques — minimally invasive approaches appropriate for selected cases.
We choose based on the recession pattern, tissue quality, and your priorities — not a single technique applied to every case.
How the procedure works
Local anesthesia. Most cases take one to two hours per session.
The graft tissue is harvested (from your palate or sourced from a donor matrix), shaped, and secured at the recession site.
Healing takes several weeks. We see you for follow-up at one week and one month to confirm the graft has integrated.
What to expect after
Some swelling and tenderness for several days at both the recipient site and (if used) the palate donor site.
Soft-food diet for one to two weeks. Avoid brushing the surgical area until cleared at follow-up.
Most patients return to office work the next day.
Common questions
Frequently asked about gum grafting
- Will the recession come back after grafting?
- Most properly placed grafts in non-traumatic conditions are stable for years. Recession can return if the cause — usually aggressive brushing, bite trauma, or untreated periodontal disease — is not also addressed. Identifying and modifying the cause is part of the treatment.
- Can donor tissue be used instead of palate tissue?
- Yes — acellular dermal matrix (processed donor tissue) is a routine option that avoids a second surgical site on your palate. It is appropriate for many but not all cases. We discuss which technique fits your case at consultation.
- Does grafting help save teeth?
- Yes — by covering exposed roots, increasing attached gum, and protecting the underlying bone, gum grafting can slow or prevent further attachment loss on at-risk teeth.
- Does grafting work for implants too?
- Yes. Implants need attached gum the same way teeth do — sometimes more so. Soft tissue grafting around implants supports long-term implant health and reduces the risk of peri-implantitis.
Your care team
Related care
Ready to talk through your options?
A consultation reviews your specific case and gives you honest options — not a pitch.