Search thousands of topics on CostHelper

BROWSE ALL TOPICS >> babies & children  cars  consumer electronics health & personal care home & garden personal finance  pets  schools small business sports weddings
CostHelper > Health & Personal Care  > Dentistry & Orthodontics > Gum Repair

Gum Repair Cost


How Much Does Gum Repair Cost?

 
low costGum Contouring: $50-$350 per toothaverage costGum Tissue Graft: $600-$1,200 per procedurehigh costFull-Mouth Periodontal Treatment: $4,000-$10,000+

Gums can recede or grow over the teeth due to diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis, reactions to prescription medications (some cause gum growth) or other factors like poor nutrition or dental hygiene. If a non-surgical treatment like the deep teeth cleaning known as scaling and root planing doesn't solve the problem, surgical procedures may be needed.

Typical costs:

  • If the gums have overgrown the teeth, creating an uneven or "gummy" appearance, gum contouring can cost $50-$350 to remove and reshape the gum around a single tooth. Because the problem is not usually limited to the area around one tooth, costs for reshaping multiple front teeth are typically $1,000-$3,000 or more.
  • If the gum is receding, leaving the tooth root exposed and possibly sensitive to hot or cold items, a gum tissue graft can cost $600-$1,200 for a single procedure in one specific area. The number of procedures required will depend on how much the gums have receded.
  • Full mouth periodontal treatment can include a variety of procedures (such as full-mouth disinfection or pocket depth reduction surgery[1] ). The average total cost is $4,000-$6,000 but it can be $8,000-$10,000 or more if the damage is extensive.
  • Dental insurance usually covers surgical restoration procedures that are considered medically necessary but not those done for cosmetic reasons. However, if the gum surgery is considered a medical procedure, some of the costs may be covered by standard health insurance.
Related articles: Dental Veneers, Teeth Cleaning, Teeth Whitening, Gum Tissue Graft, Gum Contouring, Fixing a Teeth Gap

What should be included:
  • The process of gum repair may be minimal or extensive, depending on the situation. The American Academy of Periodontology provides a detailed overview of gum diseases[2] as well as gum restoration procedures[3] , both non-surgical and surgical.
Additional costs:
  • Treatment for gum disease usually begins with a periodontal diagnosis exam and x-rays, which can cost an additional $150-$400 if not included in the quoted fee.
  • A full-mouth debridement (cleaning away excess buildup so the gums and bones are visible and can be evaluated) at $75-$150 or more is sometimes needed for new patients who have not had dental treatment for quite awhile. Most dental insurance policies cover exams and X-Rays, but not debridement.
  • Gum repair is often done in conjunction with procedures like veneers ($500-$1,100 per tooth), cosmetic dental bonding ($100-$1,000 per tooth) or crowns ($500-$3,000 or more per tooth).
  • If needed, periodontal maintenance procedures can cost $150 -$250 per visit.
Discounts:
  • Dental school clinics[4] offer reduced rates for services by supervised students or faculty.
  • The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research lists tips for finding low-cost dental care[5] .
Shopping for gum repair:
  • If the patient has dental insurance, the insurance company will provide a list of approved dentists and periodontists. Or search for local members of the American Dental Association[6] , American Academy of Periodontology[7] or the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists[8] .
  • WedMD lists things to consider when choosing a dentist[9] .
  • Most dental or periodontal offices will provide financing options varying from a discount for paying the full amount in cash to payment plans to loans from outside financial institutions.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
 
post Post   Comments (4)  
CostHelper News


7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd
As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013


7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget
End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013

‣ All CostHelper Blog Posts


What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Full Mouth Periodontal Treatment
Amount: $4,118.00 total
Posted by: KF in Deltona, FL.Posted: August 5th, 2019 03:08PM
Type: Areas: Full Mouth
The Deltona Dental Care office took very good care of me, but close to $5k is a lot of money for someone with limited income. I have no insurance. Be warned, if you don't care for your teeth for a long time you may be without teeth. Also the higher you will pay for not caring for your teeth.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Pocket reduction surgery and gum grafting
Amount: $1,100.00 total
Posted by: VA girl in Merrifield, VA.Posted: July 21st, 2016 04:07AM
Type: Pocket reduction surgery and gum graftinAreas: 1 molar on each upper and lower jaws
I had 1 molar on upper left for pocket reduction surgery and 1 molar on lower left for gum grafting. Tissue was harvested from the roof of my mouth.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
gum pocket reduction
Amount: $300.00 total
Posted by: Monica Tate in san marcos, CA.Posted: June 21st, 2016 09:06AM
Type: Areas: tooth 4
Help! Been trying to find a Periodontis that will fix my tooth for 3 years now! impossible to find a perio who will fix just one tooth. They try to blackmail you into doing more.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
my gums between my two front teeth was removed to avoid spacing out again after my braces are done
Amount: $600.00 total
Posted by: maceblythe in san diego, CA.Posted: December 16th, 2009 01:12PM
Type: i guess gingivoplastyAreas: just between my front two teeth
I am wondering if the cost was too much because they just took out the gums between my two front teeth to avoid those two front teeth to space out again after i am done with my braces. please let me know
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam


 

Comment On Your Experience With Gum Repair
 
Subject:  *
Amount Spent:  * total
Type: Areas: 
Comments: 
Purchased:  Year: 
City:  * State:  *
 
Information about you:
Email:  * Email addresses are not displayed.
Name:  This is the name we'll display with your post.
me on this computer
*=required field.
 



External Resources:
  1.  perio.org/consumer/pocket-reduction-procedures.htm
  2.  perio.org/consumer/types-gum-disease.html
  3.  perio.org/consumer/treatments_procedures
  4.  www.ada.org/267.aspx
  5.  www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/popularpublications/findinglowcostdentalcare/
  6.  www.mouthhealthy.org/en/find-a-dentist.aspx
  7.  www.perio.org/?q=locator-advanced
  8.  www.aacd.com/index.php?module=aacd.websiteforms&cmd=memberreferral
  9.  www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/finding-dentist
More Health & Personal Care Topics
Check Out All Costs for Health & Personal Care How Much Do Botox Treatments Cost? How Much Does a Flu Shot Cost? How Much Does Teeth Cleaning Cost?

Search Thousands of Topics on CostHelper.com

 
Today's Featured Cost Articles

About CostHelper
CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community
UTI urgent care visit
Paid: 147.00
Visit was $135. Antibiotics was $12. Waiting for four hours in the waiting room and the visit was quick... [more]
-nervouschomper
Urinary Tract Infection Treatment Cost
Spanish Medical Interpreter
Paid: 150.00
I worked with SynShyne Services out of Monroe, NC. They were so worth the price! Professional, friendly, accurate, great attitude and always on time. I recieved an itemized report after every contact and a user friendly invoice weekly... [more]
-Gregory Richardson
Interpreter Cost
Dat
Paid: 495.00
This is how much I am paying... [more]
-Calista Christian
Dental Admission Test Cost
Shingrix
Paid: 48.00
... [more]
-Not that BB
Shingles Vaccine Cost
Skin prick allergy test
Paid: 573.00
Took my 9 yr. old in after an allergic reaction to eggs. Several panels for nuts, fish & top 8 allergens. Sure enough, egg came up. Got a script for epinephrine and left... [more]
-D’s mom
Allergy Testing Cost
Estimate for Teeth Cleaning Cat
Paid: 0.00
13 year old cat …teeth extractions, X-rays, blood work, anesthetic, cleaning estimate 2 to 3 thousand... [more]
-Terrimarie
Cat Teeth Cleaning Cost