Gum Recession Treatment in Brookline: What Causes It and How We Fix It
By Dr. Jess Liu, Board-Certified Periodontist | Pleasant Dental Associates
Gum recession is one of the most common conditions I treat at Pleasant Dental Associates, and one of the most underestimated. Patients often notice it only when they develop tooth sensitivity to cold or hot — or when a family member points out that their teeth look longer than they used to. By the time recession is visible, the root surface has often been exposed for months or years.
The good news: modern gum grafting techniques are minimally invasive, highly predictable, and produce results that look completely natural. Here's what you need to know.
What Causes Gum Recession?
Recession rarely has a single cause. The most common contributing factors:
Aggressive brushing: the most preventable cause. Brushing too hard with a firm toothbrush erodes gum tissue over time.
Periodontal disease: bacterial infection destroys the bone and gum attachment that hold tissue in place.
Thin gum tissue (biotype): some people are born with naturally thin, delicate tissue that recedes easily.
Tooth position: teeth that sit outside the arch — common in crowded mouths — have less bone coverage on the outer surface and are prone to recession.
Orthodontic movement: moving teeth through areas of thin bone can thin gum tissue further.
Trauma or piercings: lip or tongue piercings that contact the gumline cause chronic friction and recession.
Why Recession Matters Beyond Aesthetics
Exposed root surfaces are more vulnerable to cavities — root structure doesn't have the protective enamel that crown structure does. Recession also makes teeth more sensitive, increases risk of notching at the gumline, and — if caused by periodontal disease — reflects ongoing bone loss that can eventually lead to tooth loss.
How We Treat Gum Recession
Connective Tissue Graft (Gold Standard)
The most common and most predictable surgical treatment. We harvest a small piece of connective tissue from the palate (roof of the mouth) through a small incision, then position it under the gum tissue at the recessed site. The graft adds volume and coverage, and the palate heals on its own without the tissue being removed from the surface.
Coverage rates with this technique are typically 85 to 95% for single-tooth recession in appropriate candidates.
Pinhole Surgical Technique
A minimally invasive alternative to traditional grafting. Instead of suturing a graft, a small pinhole is made in the gum tissue, which is then gently loosened and repositioned coronally (toward the crown of the tooth) using specialized instruments. Collagen strips are inserted to stabilize the repositioned tissue.
This technique is appropriate for certain recession patterns and offers faster recovery with no donor site. We evaluate case-by-case to determine which approach gives the most predictable result.
Free Gingival Graft
In cases where the goal is to increase the band of attached (keratinized) gum tissue — rather than primarily covering root surface — we may use a free gingival graft, where surface tissue from the palate is placed at the recessed site.
What Is Recovery Like?
Most patients return to normal activities within a few days. The donor site (palate) typically causes more short-term discomfort than the treated site. We provide detailed instructions on diet (soft foods for 1 to 2 weeks), oral hygiene modifications, and prescriptions as needed. Sutures are removed at 1 to 2 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will my gums grow back on their own?
A: No. Gum tissue that has receded will not regenerate without treatment. The recession will typically remain stable or continue to progress.
Q: Does gum grafting hurt?
A: The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Most patients report that the palate is sore for several days after, similar to eating something that scratched the roof of your mouth. Prescription or over-the-counter pain medication manages this well.
Q: How long does the result last?
A: In most cases, the result is permanent. The graft integrates with the existing tissue and becomes indistinguishable from natural gum. Addressing the underlying cause (brushing technique, bite problems) is important to prevent future recession.
Q: Can gum grafting be done on multiple teeth at once?
A: Yes. We often treat multiple adjacent teeth in a single procedure, which reduces total recovery time compared to multiple separate sessions.
Q: At what point is gum recession too advanced to treat?
A: Very rarely. Even significant recession can often be improved. The key variable is how much gum tissue remains and whether underlying bone is intact. We assess this at your evaluation.
Ready to Schedule?
Pleasant Dental Associates is a specialist-only practice at 1318 Beacon Street Suite 20, Brookline, MA 02446. Our board-certified periodontists and prosthodontists — all faculty at Boston University and Tufts — offer complete surgical and restorative care under one roof.
New patients: $259 exam, X-rays & cleaning special. Book online at dental4.me/pleasantdental/1 or call 617-975-3399.
