Gum Graft Cost: Prices With & Without Insurance

A gum graft is a periodontal procedure in which tissue is added to areas where the gum has receded. Fees are usually quoted either per tooth or per treatment area, so the number you see online depends on how a source counts.

The figures below come from published guides and carry a check date of Oct 12, 2026. They are ranges for budgeting, not quotes, and your own bill depends on the practice, the area, and what the periodontist or dentist plans to do.

One source prices a standard graft per tooth, which is the clearest way to compare a single treated site:

When more than one tooth or a wider area is involved, the same source reports a higher range for the treatment as a whole. This is a total for the area, not a per-tooth fee:

If a quote says "per site" or "per tooth," ask how many sites are included. A total can look like a bargain or a surprise depending on that count.

Two sources are shown here, and they measure different things. One is a national fee survey summary. The other quotes a per-tooth figure. The gap between them may reflect that difference in scope rather than a real price disagreement.

• Number of sites. More teeth or a wider area raises the total.
• Type of graft. The technique and the source of the tissue are decided by your dentist or periodontist, and fees can differ between approaches.
• Specialist or general dentist. Periodontists may set different fees than general dentists.
• Location. Fees vary by region and by the cost of running a practice.
• Sedation. If sedation is used, it is often billed separately.
• Follow-up visits. Some practices include post-procedure checks in the fee, others bill them.
• Related treatment. Cleaning or deep-cleaning work done beforehand is usually a separate charge.

Whether you need a graft at all, and which kind, is a question for a licensed dentist or periodontist. This page only covers the billing side.

Dental insurance sometimes covers part of a gum graft when the dentist documents it as necessary, rather than cosmetic. Coverage varies by plan, and many plans have waiting periods, annual maximums, and percentage splits that change what you owe. Some plans consider grafting for appearance alone to be excluded.

To avoid guessing:

1. Ask the office to send a pre-treatment estimate to your insurer.
2. Ask which procedure codes will be billed, and whether the plan covers them.
3. Check whether the periodontist is in your network.
4. Find out how much of your annual maximum is already used.

An estimate in writing from the insurer is a better guide than a general rule of thumb.

• Cash or in-office discounts. Some practices offer a reduced fee for payment at the time of service. Ask.
• Payment plans. Many offices split the cost into installments.
• Healthcare credit. Lenders such as CareCredit offer cards for dental care; read the interest terms, especially any deferred-interest clause.
• HSA or FSA funds. Dental care that your dentist documents as treatment is commonly eligible, but check your plan rules.
• Dental school clinics. University programs can offer care under faculty supervision at lower fees, usually with longer timelines.

1. Is the fee per tooth, per site, or for the whole area?
2. How many sites does this quote cover?
3. Does the price include the exam, X-rays, and follow-up visits?
4. Is sedation included?
5. What type of graft is planned, and does that change the fee?
6. Will you send a pre-treatment estimate to my insurer?
7. What payment options do you offer?

Asking for the same details from two practices makes quotes easier to compare.