Cost for gum graft

[Anonymous]

After putting it off forever—in part because I read such horror stories here—I have accepted that I need gum grafts around five teeth. Four are adjacent on the lower jaw, and one is an isolated spot on the upper jaw. I do not need a bone graft, and I don’t have any pockets or infections. I am now eager to just get the procedure over with and start moving through the discomfort of healing.

The only thing holding me back from scheduling is price. I was quoted $12,300 for the surgery. My dental insurance maxes out at $1500 total benefit/year, and my medical won’t cover any of the procedure codes, not even IV twilight anesthesia. I am able to cover the cost in cash, but it’s a sacrifice. I am seeking out a second opinion and pricing, but it’s taking a while to get the appointment. If the first periodontist’s cost estimate is in line with market rates, I’m inclined to just pay it and move forward with getting this all over with.

Do any of you all have experience with this surgery? What is the going rate in DC per tooth? For a nurse anesthetist?

If you had a difficult experience with the surgery, please don’t share it on this thread, unless it is in some way helpful to choosing a provider. I’m upset with myself for reading the TMI accounts and avoiding the surgery for as long as I have.

[Anonymous]

I was terrified of doing a gum graft and put it off for a while. I ended up having it done on 6 teeth, both top and bottom.

I only had local Novocain and was scared it wouldn’t be enough- I’m a redhead with high tolerance for anesthesia. They did have to add more at the beginning and halfway through. I hated the harvesting part where they removed tissue from my palate. It was uncomfortable but not horribly painful. I didn’t like the stitching, either. The procedure felt like it took a very long time.

I am a slow healer but I found that using the palate guard helped a lot and I didn’t have horrible pain after. Days 4-5 were the worst for me and when it felt like it shouldn’t hurt but it did. I started really healing after that and even managed a camping trip 10 days later without trouble.

I had to have a revision but my periodontist doesn’t charge for those. He’s a perfectionist and another periodontist probably would have called it good enough. That was just on one tooth and required way less time and did not feel even close to how the original one did. It was easier and healed at the same pace.

I have genetically bad gums from my dad’s side. He didn’t do anything until he was much older than me (I’m 43) and had a lot more painful work to get everything right. Do it now! Protect your teeth and gums!

The price you were quoted seems high. Mine was covered fully by insurance and the cash price was listed but would have been far lower. My periodontist schedules very far out and with payment plans. Get a second opinion and talk to them about payment plans. It’s worth it but find a perfectionist because you want this to be done right. I wouldn’t worry about IV sedation unless you’re really, really sensitive or nervous.

[Anonymous]

I was told I needed two gum grafts — just under $3,000 each. I’ve done one, and I’m waiting until next year to do the other.

[Anonymous]

I had 6 teeth with grafting (one side of the mouth with top and bottom done at once). My periodontist used the donor tissue grafting process (which not everyone does). So, there was no removal of skin from the roof of my mouth. Consequently, there was actually no pain in the following days. I had "discomfort" in my jaw from being open for so long (1 hr 45 min-ish). I had some discoloration in my cheek (bleeding/bruising in the cheek).

I took Tylenol and advil on the day I had the procedure -- not because I had actual pain, but b/c I was trying to stay ahead of it. I stopped taking it overnight (because I was sleeping), and I found that I didn't need it. So, I didn't take it after that.

It is a big commitment b/c you have to be very careful about what you eat, and how you brush for weeks.

The cost was $4400. My insurance paid an insulting $400!

Unfortunately, my dentist says I need to do the other side (similarly 6 teeth) sooner rather than later.

The worst part was sitting through the procedure. Everything after that was easier. And really, for me, it is the time when I am getting numb and waiting for it to start that is the worst. After that, the procedure itself didn't hurt. Just hard to stay open so long.

[Anonymous]

17:06 here again --- my understanding is that donor tissue grafts cost more b/c they have to charge for the donor tissue. So, $12k for 6 teeth does seem unusually high.

[Anonymous]

My DD had one. It cost $5000 but we only paid $400 and insurance covered the rest.

[Anonymous]

All of this information has been helpful. Many thanks to folks who have taken time to respond so far.

[Anonymous]

I did this a long time ago and it was no big deal. I don’t remember costs being anywhere near that high, but I was not offered donor tissue or twilight anesthesia.

[Anonymous]

OP, a thing that helped me a ton (I've had grafting in every quadrant of my mouth) in my last surgery was that the perio prescribed a valium and I took it an hour before the procedure. Wiped me out, but made the scraping and sitting in the chair through the procedure as well as the immediate aftermath way easier.

[Anonymous]

17:06 here again. I had my grafting done at the end of July (this year). So, my price comparison is pretty recent.