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Published September 2026

1 of 5The gum has pulled back and left part of the root uncovered
  1. The gum has pulled back and left part of the root uncovered
  2. The area is numbed
  3. A small piece of tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth, or from donated tissue
  4. It is placed over the uncovered root and held with fine stitches
  5. Over a few weeks it blends in and the root is covered again

Who usually does it

periodontist. Usually referred to a periodontist; some general dentists do them.

One question worth asking

Where will the graft tissue come from, and how long is the healing?

Gum graft from next to the site

Cleanings and gum careMajorD4270

D4270. Gum tissue is slid over from right next to the bare root rather than taken from the palate.

A gum graft covers roots that are exposed by receding gums. Tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth or from a donor bank and attached where the gum has pulled back. Codes differ by where the tissue comes from and how many teeth are covered.

Tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth or from a tissue bank and stitched over the exposed root, then left to knit in over a few weeks. Codes differ by where the tissue comes from and how many teeth are covered in one sitting. When tissue is taken from your own palate, that donor site is usually the sorer part afterwards. Most plans file this as Major. What they actually pay varies by plan.

Codes for this

D4270MajorGum graft from next to the siteGum tissue is slid over from right next to the bare root rather than taken from the palate.per tooth · Rarely doneD4273MajorConnective tissue gum graftTissue from under the surface of your palate is placed over the exposed root; the most common graft.per tooth · Done sometimesD4275MajorDonor tissue gum graftUses processed donor tissue so there is no second wound in your palate.per tooth · Done sometimesD4276MajorCombined connective tissue and sliding graftCombines a palate graft with gum slid over from beside the site.per tooth · Rarely doneD4277MajorFree gum graft, first toothA surface piece of palate tissue is stitched in to thicken thin gum, first tooth.per tooth · Done sometimesD4278MajorFree gum graft, each extra toothEach neighboring tooth covered by the same free graft.per tooth · Done sometimesD4283MajorExtra site, your own tissue graftAn add-on for each additional tooth covered with your own palate tissue.per tooth · Rarely doneD4285MajorExtra site, donor tissue graftAn add-on for each additional tooth covered with donor tissue.per tooth · Rarely done

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Gum graft from next to the site (D4270): what happens, step by step | TruthMolar