Cost guide · Updated November 2026
How much does a gum graft cost?
A single gum graft usually costs $550–$1,600 without insurance. The technique, the number of teeth and the city explain most of the difference — not the surgeon's reputation alone.
Edited by Maya Ellison, Health Editor · Planning ranges, not dental advice.
Quick answer
Connective tissue graft: $700–$1,600 per tooth.
Free gingival graft: $550–$1,200.
Bone graft: $650–$1,500 per site.
Gum graft cost by technique
These are cash-pay planning ranges for one tooth or one site in the United States. They include the surgeon's fee and standard sutures, and exclude sedation, imaging and separately billed materials.
| Technique | Typical range | Best suited to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connective tissue graft (CTG) | $700 – $1,600 | One or two exposed roots with enough palate tissue | Most common; a strip of subepithelial tissue is harvested from the roof of the mouth. |
| Free gingival graft (FGG) | $550 – $1,200 | Thin attached gum, lower front teeth, sites needing more keratinized tissue | Surface graft; heals with a visible patch that blends over months. |
| Pedicle / laterally positioned flap | $450 – $1,100 | A single root next to healthy gum | No donor site; limited by how much neighbouring tissue can be moved. |
| Acellular dermal matrix | $800 – $1,900 | Patients who want to avoid a palate harvest or need a large area | Donor tissue is a separate material charge, often $200–$600. |
| Periodontal bone graft | $650 – $1,500 | Bone loss around a tooth or an implant site | Different procedure; see bone graft cost. |
Also called gingival grafting or gum reconstruction surgery. Ranges are planning estimates for 2026, not quotes. A graft spanning several teeth is often quoted per quadrant; ask for both the total and the per-tooth equivalent.
What the surgical fee usually includes
- Local anaesthesia and the surgical procedure
- Harvesting the graft from the palate, when used
- Standard sutures and a protective dressing or stent
- One post-operative check, at most practices
What is often billed separately
- Consultation, periodontal charting and radiographs
- Donor tissue, membranes or biologics
- Nitrous oxide, oral sedation or IV sedation
- Additional follow-up visits or suture removal
- Bone grafting or crown lengthening done at the same time
How to compare two quotes
Ask each office for the same four lines: the CDT code, the graft material, whether sedation is included, and the number of follow-up visits. A quote that omits the material or the second surgical site is not cheaper — it is incomplete.
Red flag: a phone quote with no examination and no code. Gum thickness and root coverage cannot be assessed over the phone, and a practice that guesses is guessing with your money.
Insurance: what to expect
Dental plans often treat a gum graft as periodontal surgery (CDT D4270–D4278) rather than cosmetic care. When the graft is medically necessary, coverage commonly falls in the 50–80% range after a deductible, subject to an annual maximum.
The maximum — often $1,000–$2,000 per year — is the number that decides how much you actually recover. A plan that pays 80% of a $1,400 graft but caps at $1,000 pays $1,000, not $1,120.
Paying over time
Many periodontal offices work with third-party financing or offer in-house plans. Before you sign:
- Ask whether the quoted monthly payment includes interest or an origination fee.
- Confirm whether the deposit is refundable if the graft is postponed.
- Check whether the financing company reports to credit bureaus.
- Ask for the cash-pay discount in writing; it is often 5–10%.
Gum graft cost by state
We do not publish invented state averages. Local fees vary with the number of practicing periodontists, rent and lab costs. Use the directory to find practices in your state, then ask each for a written estimate.
607 practices across 59 cities.See every state →
Gum contouring and a gummy smile
Gum contouring is the opposite of a graft: it removes excess tissue instead of adding it. It is priced separately, and cosmetic cases are usually not covered by dental insurance.
| Treatment | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gum contouring, gum only | $200 – $600 per tooth | Scalpel or laser; a full smile usually takes one to two hours. |
| Laser gum contouring | $300 – $800 per tooth | Less bleeding and often fewer sutures; not a substitute for bone work. |
| Full upper smile | $1,200 – $3,500 | Six to eight teeth; the final result is judged at 8–12 weeks. |
| Crown lengthening | $1,000 – $2,500 per tooth | Includes bone recontouring; used when the gum and bone sit too low. |
Planning ranges, not quotes. Read the gum contouring cost guide for what changes the estimate and how insurance treats cosmetic work.
What is gum contouring?
Who qualifies, how the procedure works and why bone matters.
Gummy smile treatment
Gum, bone, lip or jaw — the treatment follows the cause.
Laser gum contouring
How it compares with a scalpel, recovery and the real cost.
Find a gum contouring provider
The consultation questions that separate a plan from a quote.
Not sure which term your dentist used? Readgum reshaping vs gum contouring.
Questions about gum graft cost
How much does a gum graft cost per tooth?
A single-tooth connective tissue graft typically costs $700–$1,600. Free gingival grafts run about $550–$1,200, and pedicle flaps about $450–$1,100. Donor-tissue grafts add a material fee that can push the total toward $1,900.
Is a gum graft expensive?
It is a surgical periodontal procedure, so it costs more than a filling and less than an implant. Most patients pay somewhere between $550 and $1,600 per tooth before insurance. The price reflects surgical time, a second donor site in the mouth, sutures and follow-up.
Can I pay for a gum graft in installments?
Many periodontal offices offer third-party financing such as CareCredit or in-house payment plans. Ask before the consultation: some practices charge a financing fee, and some require a larger deposit for the first visit.
Does a gum graft include the consultation?
Not always. A periodontal consultation with probing, radiographs and a treatment plan may be billed separately, often $100–$300. Ask whether the consultation fee is credited toward surgery if you book within a set window.
Why is one quote much higher than another?
The technique, the number of teeth treated, whether donor tissue is used, sedation, and the local market all change the number. A quote that is dramatically lower may exclude the graft material, the follow-up visits or the second surgical site.
Will insurance cover a gum graft?
Many dental plans cover periodontal surgery at 50–80% after a deductible when the graft treats disease rather than appearance. Annual maximums of $1,000–$2,000 often cap the benefit. A pre-treatment estimate is the only reliable answer for your plan.
This page is general information, not a dental diagnosis or a binding quote. Confirm fees and coverage with a licensed periodontist and your insurer.