Case #3 – The “Long” Tooth, Gum Recession

This new patient was referred by a friend in Bradford. They noticed that their tooth became more sensitive when drinking water, brushing, and eating sweets. When they looked in the mirror (as we all like to do), their tooth looked “longer” – these are classic symptoms of gum recession. You can learn more about gum recession here including prevention and management: https://arbodentalcare.com/blog/gum-recession

Gum Recession Treatment by Connective Tissue Graft by Dr. David Pham, HBSc, DDS

Dentist in Bradford, ON | Family Dentistry | Arbo Dental Care (https://arbodentalcare.com/blog/gum-recession)

This patient mentioned that when they would eat certain foods, they noticed they started to worry and anticipate the sensitivity.

After discussing the options with our patient including the benefits, risks, and prognosis of each option, they wanted to treat this recession to avoid worsening symptoms and risk losing the tooth. After thorough exam and testing,

Our diagnosis: 5mm gingival recession Miller Class I on the buccal surface of the upper right 1st molar, dentin hypersensitivity

Treatment plan: connective tissue graft (autogenous)

Our goal is to cover as much of the root as possible, but it is not 100% guaranteed.

The main factor in this is how severe the recession was to begin with. The second factor is patient biology – a healthy patient in general will heal better.

Approximately 3 months after treatment, we can appreciate a greater thickness of healthy gum tissue, and 110% root coverage was achieved. The patient and us were pleasantly surprised by this result!

More importantly, the sensitivity this patient was feeling completely went away. They started to enjoy foods and drinks without any discomfort or worrying about any discomfort.

The white line indicates where the gum recession was before treatment, and superimposed, after 3 months we can see there has been substantial gain in tissue. With thorough examination, diagnosis, treatment planning and proper home care by the patient, we were able to achieve a great result.

If you want a check up to assess your risk for gum recession and overall dental health, please give us a call at 905-775-7377, email info@arbodentalcare.com or visit us at

Arbo Dental Care
157 Holland St. E, Unit #202 (2nd Floor), Bradford, L3Z 2B1.
Caring for you and your smile,
Dr. David Pham
Arbo Dental Care
Bradford, ON

Common questions patients ask about gum grafts:

1. Does it hurt?

The gums will be completely numb during the procedure, so it should not hurt. Soreness will get better after 4-7 days, as expected with any type of minor surgery. We also prescribe medications to make sure you feel comfortable during recovery.

2. What can I eat after?

We provide a temporary mouthguard for eating. We normally recommend soft food diet (eggs, fish, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables) for minimum 2 weeks. Then after the first month, can return to normal food eating.

3. Will I need another gum graft in the future?
It’s not likely another gum graft would be needed. It can last years to decades.

4. Will my dental plan cover this procedure?

Most dental plans offer partial coverage, for more details and an estimate please call us at 905-775-7377 or email at info@arbodentalcare.com so we can help you navigate your dental plan so you can get the treatment you need.

5. How to prevent this from happening?

Dr. Pham recommends brushing gently with a soft electric toothbrush (if your electric toothbrush has power settings choose the lowest setting). Brush away from the gumline towards the tooth. Using Pronamel is also beneficial compared to other toothpastes due to its low abrasiveness. More information visit https://arbodentalcare.com/blog/gum-recession