There are two types of gum tissues in the mouth. The type closer to the tooth has an extra layer of “skin” called keratin — the same protein that is in your hair and nails, and is naturally pink in color.The gum tissue closer to the lip is lacking this layer and is called mucosa. It has been shown that in the presence of periodontal disease, gum will be lost faster without this keratinized layer and poses a mucogingival problem.

Mucogingival Surgery to Add Keratinized Tissue

To correct the problem of thinning gum, additional gum from another site in the mouth can be added.

Before

After

Root Coverage

When gum tissue recedes, the roots of the teeth can become exposed causing increased sensitivity or aesthetic problems. These problems can be alleviated by grafting gum from another part of the mouth to cover the exposed roots.