Plastic of gingival recession in Turkey: what it is and how it works
Plastic of gingival recession, known in English as periodontal plastic surgery or gum grafting, is a small operation that rebuilds gum tissue where it has pulled back from a tooth and exposed the root. When the gum recedes, the root surface becomes sensitive to cold and brushing, the tooth looks longer, and the exposed root is prone to decay and wear. The surgeon covers the root with gum tissue, either taken from another part of your mouth or from a donor material, and secures it so that it heals onto the tooth. Some techniques move the existing gum sideways or upward, while others add a graft underneath. The aim is to cover the root where possible, thicken thin gum and make the area easier to keep clean.
This guide explains what causes recession, how the techniques differ, what the evidence says, what treatment costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, what recovery and results look like and how to choose a dentist. It forms part of our wider dental treatments in Turkey section.
Why do gums recede, and when is surgery worth considering?
Recession has several causes, and treating the cause matters as much as the graft. Hard tooth-brushing and a thin, fragile gum biotype are common; so are the effects of gum disease, tooth position (a tooth pushed out of the bone arch by crowding or orthodontic movement), a high muscle attachment pulling on the gum, lip or tongue piercings and, in some people, simply ageing. Smokers are more affected.
Surgery is usually advised when the recession is progressing, the root is sensitive or decaying, the gum around the tooth is too thin to protect it before orthodontic treatment, or the appearance of the smile bothers you. Mild, stable recession without symptoms is often watched rather than operated on, with a change of brushing technique. Active gum infection should be treated first, as covered in our guide to gum surgery, before a graft is placed.
Does plastic of gingival recession work? What the evidence says
Yes, for the right kind of recession. Systematic reviews of root coverage procedures show that connective tissue grafts combined with a coronally advanced flap give the most predictable coverage, and that results are most reliable where the bone and gum between the teeth are intact, in the so-called Miller class I and II defects. Complete coverage of the root is achievable in many such cases, though not in all. Where bone or gum between the teeth has been lost (Miller class III and IV), coverage is only partial and less predictable, and some patients do not gain complete coverage.
The treatment also thickens the gum, which lowers the chance of more recession as long as brushing is gentle. It does not remove the original cause, so a graft may fail if the habit or tooth position that caused recession remains. A reliable dentist explains the class of recession, the probable coverage and what you must change.
Gum graft cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges per treated tooth or site, not clinic quotes. The price depends on the technique, the graft material, the number of teeth, whether the quote includes the consultation, any X-rays and the follow-up. Each clinic confirms its own price in writing.
| Country | Approximate cost range per tooth or site |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €150 – €700 |
| United Kingdom | €450 – €1,500 |
| United States | €700 – €2,800 |
| Germany | €400 – €1,400 |
What changes the price: a graft taken from your own palate costs less in material but adds a second surgical site, while a donor collagen matrix costs more but avoids it. Treating several adjacent teeth in one session lowers the cost per tooth. Magnification, microsurgical instruments and biological products, such as enamel matrix derivative, may be added. Ask what is included, particularly the stitch removal and any later adjustment.
Connective tissue graft, free gingival graft, tunnel or pinhole: which technique?
No single operation suits everyone; the choice depends on the number of teeth, the thickness of your gum and the look of the area. Three families are common. In a connective tissue graft, a thin layer of tissue is taken from under the surface of the palate and placed under a flap that is repositioned to cover the root. A free gingival graft takes a small piece of palate surface and sews it on, which thickens gum and is useful where the gum is very thin, though the colour match is less natural. In a tunnel technique, a tunnel is created under the gum without cutting between the teeth, so the graft is slid in and the gum is pulled over it; the pinhole technique uses a needle-sized opening and special instruments to move the gum without a graft or incision.
| Technique | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Connective tissue graft with advanced flap | Single or multiple teeth needing root coverage and thicker gum | Second wound at the palate; needs a skilled surgeon |
| Free gingival graft | Very thin gum, need for more attached tissue | Less natural colour; limited root coverage |
| Tunnel technique with graft or matrix | Several neighbouring teeth, aesthetic zone | Technically demanding; not every shape suits it |
| Pinhole technique | Mild to moderate recession without graft | Fewer long-term data; not for every case |
If the exposed area is a notch from wear rather than true recession, a filling or dental bonding may be used instead or as well, and a damaged tooth surface may need tooth restoration.
Who is a good candidate, and who is not?
Good candidates are adults with recession, root sensitivity or thin gum, who have healthy gums elsewhere, brush gently and do not smoke. You are less suited if you have active, uncontrolled gum disease, continue to smoke (grafts heal poorly with reduced blood supply), have poorly controlled diabetes or a bleeding disorder, take medicines that affect healing or have very little bone support. Women who are pregnant are often advised to wait. In some cases the tooth position, for example one pushed forward, should be corrected with orthodontics before or alongside the graft. Where the crown of the tooth is also short, crown lengthening is a different operation with a different purpose, and a dentist should explain which is needed.
Plastic of gingival recession step by step: anaesthesia, duration and technique
The mouth is cleaned and examined, and the roots are polished. Local anaesthetic numbs the area, and sedation is available for anxious patients. For a graft, the surgeon prepares the receiving area, removes or smooths the exposed root surface, and takes the tissue from the palate or opens a donor matrix. The graft is placed and held with fine sutures, and the flap is moved to cover it. Care is taken to avoid tension, because tension affects the result. One to three teeth normally take 45 to 90 minutes; a larger area takes longer. If the palate is the donor site, a protective plate or dressing is often placed to help it heal.
Recovery after gum grafting and how long to stay in Turkey
Expect some swelling, tenderness and a bruised feeling for several days, with the palate donor site often the more uncomfortable part. A soft, cool diet is advised for about a week. Do not brush the treated area; you use a prescribed antiseptic rinse or gel and clean the rest of the mouth as normal. Avoid pulling on the lip to look at the stitches, smoking and strenuous exercise for the first days. Stitches are removed after about 10 to 14 days, and the gum continues to mature over three to six months.
Plan about 7 to 10 days in Turkey so that the dentist can check the graft and remove the sutures before you fly. If the clinic agrees, some patients have stitches removed by their own dentist at home with a report. Flying is not an issue for the gum itself, but keep to soft food and take painkillers as advised.
Gum recession surgery before and after: what are realistic results?
After healing, the exposed root should be covered or partly covered, the gum edge looks more even and the gum feels thicker and firmer. Sensitivity to cold often falls, though not always completely. Photographs usually show the clearest difference in the smile line. Expect the first weeks to look uneven or whiter, because grafts heal in stages, and the final colour and contour settle after several months. Complete coverage cannot be promised: it depends on the recession type, the gum thickness and your care. The result lasts only if brushing is gentle and the tooth stays healthy, so keep to your hygiene plan. Ask for before-and-after photographs of similar cases rather than only the most favourable ones.
Risks and side effects of gum graft surgery
Common effects are swelling, pain, bleeding and a feeling of tightness, as well as numbness or soreness at the palate. Less common problems include partial graft failure, incomplete root coverage, infection, a visible colour or texture mismatch, gum recession returning, sensitivity of the tooth, and delayed healing in smokers and in those with diabetes. Rare complications include significant bleeding from the palate. Professional bodies such as the American Academy of Periodontology and the NHS describe grafts as routine procedures with low serious risk, but stress careful aftercare and gentle brushing. Ask the clinic what happens if the graft fails and whether a second attempt is included in the price or charged separately.
How to choose a periodontist or dentist, and questions to ask
Look for a dentist who performs gum grafts regularly, ideally with periodontal specialist training, who measures the recession and explains the class and probable coverage before quoting. Red flags include a quote without examination, promises of complete coverage for every tooth, no plan for the cause of recession, pressure to treat all teeth and no review visit. Read how our process works and send your photographs through the free quote page.
- How much recession do I have, and which class is it?
- Which technique do you propose, and where does the graft tissue come from?
- What coverage is realistic, and what could prevent it?
- Is the price per tooth, and does it include stitch removal and review?
- What must I change in brushing or orthodontic position to protect the result?
- What happens if the graft does not take?
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is gum graft surgery, a small operation that covers exposed tooth roots with gum tissue taken from your palate or a donor material, or moved from nearby gum. It reduces sensitivity, thickens the gum and improves the look of the gum line.
Yes, especially a connective tissue graft with an advanced flap in recession where bone and gum between the teeth are intact. Complete root coverage is common in such cases but cannot be promised, and results depend on your brushing and habits.
Roughly €150 to €700 per tooth or site in Turkey, compared with about €450 to €1,500 in the UK. The graft material, number of teeth and technique change the price, and the clinic confirms it in writing.
The root is covered or partly covered and the gum line looks more even. The first weeks may look uneven, and the final colour and contour settle over three to six months.
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic. Afterwards soreness and swelling are common for several days, usually more at the palate donor site, and are managed with painkillers and a soft diet.
Swelling settles within a week, stitches are removed after 10 to 14 days and the graft matures over three to six months. Avoid brushing the area and smoking during early healing.
Gum tissue does not regrow by itself. Gentler brushing and treating gum disease can stop recession from progressing, but covering an exposed root needs a graft or flap.
Often from the palate, which adds a second wound. A donor collagen matrix can be used instead, avoiding the palate, though it may cost more and suit fewer cases.
Smokers, people with active gum disease or poorly controlled diabetes, and those with very little bone support heal poorly and may need other treatment first. A dentist should assess this before a graft.
Plan 7 to 10 days so that the dentist can check the graft and remove stitches before you fly. Some clinics allow stitch removal by your own dentist at home.