Is Dental Bonding a Better Alternative to Gum Grafting?

Receding gums are a growing concern, especially as we age. Research shows that 90% of older adults experience gum recession on at least one tooth.

While gum recession doesn’t always require treatment if it remains stable, it can sometimes affect your smile and oral health. Fortunately, there are effective solutions to restore your gums and bring back a more youthful appearance.

In this article, we’ll compare two popular treatments—gingival grafting and composite bonding—to help you make an informed decision.

How Can Dental Bonding Fix Receding Gums?

Fixing gum recession with bonding is simple. Your dentist applies a tooth-colored composite material to the exposed roots, then shapes and smooths it. The goal is to create the illusion of a natural, recession-free gumline by hiding signs of recession.

One of the most noticeable effects of receding gums is the formation of black triangles between teeth. These gaps can make your smile look older and affect your overall facial appearance.

Dental bonding excels at filling these gaps, often offering immediate and impressive aesthetic results.

However, while this option can be effective in some cases, it does have limitations. Dental bonding doesn’t rebuild or strengthen the gums the way a graft does. It’s mainly a cosmetic solution that reshapes the teeth to hide areas of recession—nothing more, nothing less.

Is Dental Bonding Better Than Gum Grafting?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Each treatment has its own pros, cons, and specific indications depending on your unique situation.

Dental bonding may be a better option if you’re looking for a quick, affordable, and non-invasive solution for cosmetic concerns. The procedure requires no surgery, no recovery time, and can usually be completed in a single visit. Plus, it’s one of the most affordable options compared to other, more advanced procedures.

However, bonding doesn’t work for everyone. That’s because it doesn’t treat the gums—it only reshapes the teeth to create the illusion of a normal gumline.

If your recession is severe and much of the root is exposed, bonding won’t be effective.

It also won’t help if your goal is to strengthen or protect your gums, or to prevent further recession. In fact, if bonding isn’t done and polished properly, it can lead to more plaque and food buildup, causing inflammation and possibly making the recession worse.

When Gum Grafting Wins Over Dental Bonding?

If your gums are thin and fragile or your recession is severe, gum grafting is often the best choice. Besides covering exposed roots, a gum graft strengthens and thickens the gums, making them healthier and more resistant to further recession.

Treating advanced gum recession with dental bonding is simply unrealistic. In cases like the one below, only a gum graft can rebuild the lost tissue and fully cover the exposed roots.

The downside of gum grafting? It requires a recovery period and can be costly.

Healing and full integration of the graft usually take one to two months. After that, the results are overall stable for many years.

But, like with dental bonding, not everyone is an ideal candidate for grafting. Some cases have higher success rates, while others carry greater risks of failure or poor results.

In general, the more severe the recession and the more teeth involved, the less favorable the prognosis.

When Is Dental Bonding the Right Choice?

Dental bonding works best in certain situations. Here’s when it might be a good option for you:

• ✅ Your gum recession is minor – Composite bonding is effective for small recessions, especially in the spaces between teeth.


• ✅ Your gums are healthy – Inflammation-free gums are a prerequisite for a successful bonding procedure (same goes for grafting). If you have active gum disease, it needs to be treated first.


• ✅ Your recession is stable – The recession must be under control before treatment. If it’s still progressing, bonding could make things worse.


• ✅ You have excellent oral hygiene – Poor hygiene can not only worsen gum disease but also cause the composite to stain and wear down quickly.


• ✅ You want instant results – All it takes for dental bonding to improve your gum line appearance is a single visit.


• ✅ Your concern is primarily cosmetic – Bonding works best when the issue is primarily cosmetic. It does not thicken or strengthen the gums.


• ✅ You’re not a candidate for surgery – If you can’t undergo a gum graft, bonding can be a non-invasive alternative to visually conceal exposed roots.

When Gum Surgery is the Best Option for You

Here’s when a gum graft might be a better choice:

• ✅ You’re a good candidate for surgery – You shouldn’t have any medical conditions that prevent you from having surgery. Also, for the graft to take hold and heal well, there must be good blood flow in the area. Without this, the graft won’t survive or heal properly.


• ✅ You have severe recessions – For advanced gum recession, gum grafting is often the only possible solution. Bonding won’t be effective in concealing significant recession.


• ✅ You want to strengthen your gums and prevent further damage – Gum grafting can thicken your gums, making them stronger and more resistant to future recession. This long-term benefit is one of the main advantages grafting has over bonding.

What to Expect from Dental Bonding for Receding Gums

The results of composite bonding are immediate—you’ll see a noticeable improvement right after your first session.

You can expect the composite to maintain its appearance for 5 to 10 years, though this varies depending on factors like your oral hygiene, diet, and gum care. For example, if you regularly consume staining foods or drinks like coffee, the composite may stain more quickly, meaning you might need touch-ups more often.

To keep the composite looking its best for as long as possible, it’s a good idea to limit these types of foods and drinks—or at least rinse or brush your teeth right after consuming them.

It’s also important to maintain excellent oral hygiene. If your gums recede further, new root surfaces can show, which may make the bonding look uneven and unattractive.

Dental Bonding vs. Gum Grafting: The Verdict

Composite bonding is a great option for a quick, easy, and minor cosmetic fix to hide receding areas. However, it requires proper care to prevent wear and staining and to ensure it lasts as long as possible.

Gum grafting not only conceals recession but also thickens the gums and helps prevent further damage. However, it involves a surgical procedure and a healing period that might not be suitable for everyone.

In the short term, composite bonding has the advantage. But for longer-lasting results and stronger gums, grafting is often the better option. Since composite requires frequent touch-ups, grafting can be much more cost-effective over time.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your unique situation. Only a qualified dentist can help you make the right decision.