Gum Recession Treatment Cost UK (2026)

A single gum graft costs £400–£1,200 per tooth in the UK. Most people need more than one tooth treated. If your gums have receded across four to six teeth — not uncommon — you're looking at £2,400–£7,200 before the periodontist has even mentioned follow-up visits.

That's the reality of gum recession treatment in Britain right now. And unlike a filling or a crown, this isn't something you can put off indefinitely. Exposed roots mean sensitivity, bone loss, and eventually tooth loss.

Here's what every treatment actually costs, what drives those prices up, and where the savings are.

What Does Gum Recession Treatment Actually Cost?

The price depends entirely on how far your gums have pulled back and which technique your periodontist recommends.

For mild recession caught early, a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) at £200–£400 may be enough to halt progression. No surgery required. This is the best-case scenario.

Moderate recession usually needs a gum graft. Connective tissue grafts — where tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth and stitched over the exposed root — run £400–£1,200 per tooth. The Pinhole Surgical Technique, a newer and less invasive option, costs £600–£1,500 per area but avoids the palate donor site entirely.

Regenerative treatments like Emdogain, which stimulates the body to regrow lost gum and bone tissue, add £400–£800 per tooth on top of the surgical fee.

If you're unsure what stage your recession has reached, MyDentalFly's free dental assessment lets you map your symptoms on an interactive dental chart and get a Dental Health Report with specific treatment recommendations — before you spend a penny on consultations.

Treatment Options by Severity

The connective tissue graft remains the gold standard. It has the longest track record and the most predictable outcomes. But it's also the most uncomfortable — you're healing two surgical sites (gum and palate) simultaneously.

UK vs Turkey vs Hungary

This is where the numbers get interesting.

A patient needing gum grafts on four teeth pays £1,600–£4,800 in the UK. The same work in Turkey: £600–£1,600. Even after flights and a hotel, the savings are substantial.

That quote's from a dental tourism patient, and it captures the problem perfectly. Prices vary wildly, and you can't judge quality from cost alone. This is exactly why being able to compare clinic prices side by side — with real GBP figures from vetted clinics — matters more than picking the first Google result.

What Pushes the Price Up

Number of teeth. The single biggest factor. One tooth is manageable. Six teeth turns a minor procedure into a major expense.

Technique used. The Pinhole Surgical Technique costs more upfront but treats multiple teeth in one session with less downtime. Connective tissue grafts are cheaper per tooth but require a separate donor site.

Specialist vs general dentist. A periodontist (gum specialist) typically charges 30–50% more than a general dentist for the same procedure. For gum grafts specifically, the specialist premium is worth it — success rates are significantly higher.

Location within the UK. London periodontists charge 20–40% more than those in the Midlands or North. A gum graft that costs £500 in Manchester might be £800 in Harley Street.

Additional treatments needed. If recession has caused bone loss, you may need bone grafting or Emdogain on top of the gum graft itself. This can double the total cost.

Can You Get Gum Treatment Abroad?

Yes, but with caveats specific to gum surgery.

Turkey and Hungary both have experienced periodontists performing gum grafts at 50–67% less than UK prices. Istanbul in particular has clinics with dedicated periodontal departments — not just cosmetic dentistry mills focused on veneers and implants. For a deeper look at what's available, see our guide to dental implants in Turkey, which covers the clinic vetting process in detail.

The savings become especially compelling for multi-tooth cases. If you need grafts on six teeth, you might save £3,000–£5,000 — enough to cover flights, a week's accommodation, and still come out well ahead. And Istanbul offers more than a waiting room: the Bosphorus, historic bazaars, and traditional hammams make it easy to turn recovery time into a short holiday.

The honest caveat: gum grafts require careful follow-up. The tissue needs monitoring at one week and again at three to four weeks post-surgery. If you fly home after a week, your follow-up care falls to your UK dentist — who didn't perform the surgery and may approach healing checks differently. Make sure your abroad clinic provides post-visit updates through a proper system (MyDentalFly's patient portal lets clinics share clinical notes and track your recovery remotely), and confirm your UK dentist is willing to handle follow-up before you book.

Smart advice. For a single tooth, the maths often don't work for going abroad. For three teeth or more, they usually do — especially if you combine it with other dental work you've been putting off.

Worried about which clinics are actually trustworthy? MyDentalFly only lists clinics that pass a vetting process and provide written treatment guarantees. You can compare up to three clinics side by side with real prices in your currency — unlike directories where anyone with a credit card gets a listing. Check what's available for your case with a free dental assessment.

FAQ

Does the NHS cover gum recession treatment?

The NHS covers basic periodontal treatment (deep cleaning) under Band 2 at £77.50. However, gum grafts and surgical recession treatments are almost never available on the NHS. They're classified as cosmetic or specialist procedures. You'll need to go private, where costs start at £400 per tooth.

How long does recovery take?

Deep cleaning: a few days of sensitivity. Gum grafts: two to four weeks before the site fully heals, though most people return to normal eating within 10–14 days. The Pinhole Surgical Technique has the fastest recovery — often just a few days. Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy food during healing regardless of technique.

Can receding gums grow back?

No. Once gum tissue is lost, it doesn't regenerate on its own. Treatments like gum grafts replace lost tissue, and Emdogain can stimulate partial regrowth of both gum and bone. But prevention — proper brushing technique, treating gum disease early — is always cheaper than repair. If you're noticing early signs, don't wait.

Is it worth going abroad for gum treatment?

For a single tooth, probably not — the savings don't outweigh the logistics. For three or more teeth, especially if you also need other dental work (implants, crowns, deep cleaning), the combined savings of 50–67% make a strong case. The key is choosing a clinic with a dedicated periodontist, not just a general dentist, and having a clear follow-up plan for when you're back in the UK.

How do I know which gum recession treatment I need?

Your dentist or periodontist will assess recession depth (measured in millimetres), check for bone loss, and factor in whether the recession is localised or widespread. If you want an initial steer before paying for a specialist consultation, MyDentalFly's Dental Health Report analyses your symptoms and recommends specific treatments — giving you a starting point for informed conversations with any clinician.