---
title: "What Is Gum graft? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "A gum graft is surgery that adds gum tissue to an area where the gum has pulled back. It covers exposed roots and adds thickness to the gumline."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gum-graft
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Procedures

# Gum graft

A gum graft is surgery that adds gum tissue to an area where the gum has pulled back. It covers exposed roots and adds thickness to the gumline.

Gum graft surgery is a dental procedure for treating thinning gums or gum recession. Gum grafting covers exposed tooth roots and adds volume to your gumline. It has a good success rate and can reduce your risk of severe gum disease.

In a common type of graft, tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth and moved to the area of recession. You are numb during the surgery, and Cleveland Clinic describes a fairly quick recovery.

Not every receding gum needs a graft. Some can be watched. See [gum recession](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gum-recession) and [root decay](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/root-decay). A dentist can measure the recession, find the cause and talk with you about whether a graft makes sense.

## Related terms

-   [Gum recession](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gum-recession)
-   [Root decay](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/root-decay)
-   [Gingivectomy](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gingivectomy)
-   [Gums (gingiva)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gums-gingiva)
-   [Periodontitis](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/periodontitis)

## Sources

1.  [Cleveland Clinic: Gum Graft Surgery: What it Is, Procedure & Recovery](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23504-gum-graft-surgery)
2.  [Cleveland Clinic: Gum Graft Surgery: What it Is, Procedure & Recovery](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23504-gum-graft-surgery)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)