Will Gum Grafting Help with Sensitivity If There's Bone Loss?

The short answer: no. Gum grafts can help with sensitivity only when we’re able to cover the exposed roots. In this patient’s case, there was significant bone loss — meaning the gum tissue had already dropped away from the bone, making full root coverage impossible.

Instead, our goal was to thicken and strengthen the gum tissue to help prevent additional bone loss in the future, not to treat sensitivity. Fortunately, this patient had no sensitivity symptoms.

When bone loss is severe, root coverage isn’t possible, but there are still ways to manage sensitivity with the right products and care. Always talk to your periodontist about what’s best for your situation. If a patient has enough bone remaining, root coverage can often be achieved with a connective tissue graft, addressing both gum health and sensitivity.