Gum Surgery in Anchorage, AK

Our office performs connective tissue grafts, a dental surgery that covers exposed tooth roots caused by gum recession. Tissue is taken from under a flap on the palate to restore the gumline, reduce sensitivity, prevent tooth decay, and improve appearance.

Recovery typically takes one to two weeks.

Why Gums Recede

Recession has more than one cause. Periodontal disease is the most common, but brushing too aggressively, grinding or clenching, a bite that does not come together evenly, and naturally thin gum tissue all contribute. Once a root is exposed, the gum does not grow back over it on its own, and root surface is softer than enamel, so it wears and decays more readily than the crown of the tooth.

What a Connective Tissue Graft Involves

A small amount of tissue is taken from beneath a flap on the roof of the mouth and secured over the exposed root, and the donor site is closed. Because the graft brings both tissue and its own blood supply to the area, it is the approach used when the goal is durable root coverage rather than a cosmetic touch-up. The procedure is done under local anesthetic in our office.

Recovery and Aftercare

You will go home with specific instructions for the days that follow, which generally cover what to eat, how to keep the surgical site clean without brushing it directly, and what to rinse with. Some tenderness and swelling at both the graft site and the palate is expected. Follow-up visits let us check how the tissue is healing and remove sutures if they are not the dissolving kind.

Protecting the Result

A graft addresses damage that has already happened. Keeping the new gumline stable comes down to controlling whatever caused the recession in the first place, whether that means treating active gum disease, changing how you brush, or managing grinding with a night guard. Regular periodontal maintenance visits are part of holding onto the result long term.