Board-certified periodontist Dr. Chanook David Ahn treats receding gums with microsurgical precision -- connective tissue grafts, AlloDerm, tunnel technique, and PRF therapy just minutes from Newport Beach
Newport Beach patients often present with recession driven by thin tissue biotype rather than periodontal disease -- a pattern where the gum tissue is genetically thin and gradually pulls away from the tooth even with excellent hygiene. These cases respond exceptionally well to connective tissue grafting because the goal is tissue augmentation, not disease control. The graft adds biological thickness that the patient's anatomy never provided.
— Dr. Chanook David Ahn, DMD, Board-Certified Periodontist, Yale-trained
Gum grafting is a microsurgical procedure that restores the band of protective tissue around teeth affected by gum recession. When the gum margin retreats down the tooth, it exposes the root surface -- a part of the tooth that was never designed to face the oral environment directly. Root surfaces lack the hard enamel coating that protects the crown, leaving them vulnerable to sensitivity, decay, and progressive tissue loss. Gum grafting reverses this exposure by transplanting tissue to rebuild the gum margin and cover the root.
The procedure addresses both the functional and cosmetic consequences of recession. Functionally, an adequate band of attached gingiva acts as a biological seal against bacteria, insulates the root from temperature extremes, and provides the structural support that keeps the tooth stable in the bone. Cosmetically, recession creates the appearance of elongated teeth with uneven gum lines -- a concern that many patients find affects their confidence when smiling or speaking.
Gum recession develops from multiple causes, and identifying the underlying driver is essential to selecting the right grafting approach and preventing recurrence. Common causes include aggressive tooth brushing, thin tissue biotype, prior orthodontic treatment that moved teeth outside the bony housing, clenching or grinding habits, periodontal disease, and high frenum attachments that pull on the gum margin. A thorough evaluation by a board-certified periodontist distinguishes between these causes and shapes the treatment plan accordingly.
The Loft Dental Studio sits directly on the Newport Beach border in Costa Mesa's South Coast Metro district. Located at 3151 Airway Ave, Suite F-103, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, our office is closer to many Newport Beach neighborhoods than dental practices located within the city itself. The South Coast Metro area borders Newport Beach along Bristol Street and Birch Street, and the drive from most parts of Newport Beach takes 5 to 10 minutes.
From Corona del Mar, take Jamboree Road north past Fashion Island and the Back Bay -- the office is about 8 minutes away via Birch Street or Bristol Street. From Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island, head north on Newport Boulevard, which becomes 19th Street in Costa Mesa, then take the 55 Freeway briefly or continue on surface streets to the South Coast Metro area. The drive is roughly 10 minutes. Fashion Island and the Back Bay area are the closest Newport Beach neighborhoods -- patients from this area are typically less than 5 minutes away, essentially crossing one city boundary along Bristol Street.
Newport Coast residents can take San Joaquin Hills Road to the 73 Toll Road heading north, exit at Bristol Street, and reach the office in about 10 to 12 minutes. From Dover Shores and Westcliff, take Irvine Avenue or Dover Drive north into Costa Mesa -- the drive runs about 7 to 9 minutes on surface streets.
Free parking is available at the Airway Business Center complex with no parking structure to navigate. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, including the Saturday availability that many Newport Beach professionals find essential for scheduling surgical procedures without missing workdays.
Newport Beach patients choose our practice because Dr. Ahn is a board-certified periodontist with Yale residency training who performs gum grafts as a core part of his daily surgical caseload. Gum grafting demands refined microsurgical technique -- the ability to handle tissue gently, position grafts precisely, and achieve consistent root coverage under magnification. This level of surgical skill develops through years of focused training and high-volume practice, not through occasional exposure in a general dentistry setting.
The right grafting technique depends on the pattern and severity of recession, the thickness of existing tissue, the number of teeth involved, and your goals for the result. Dr. Ahn evaluates each case individually and recommends the approach most likely to produce complete, lasting root coverage.
The connective tissue graft is the most widely studied and well-documented soft tissue grafting technique. A thin strip of subepithelial connective tissue is harvested from beneath the palatal mucosa and transplanted to the recession defect. This tissue is dense with collagen fibers and progenitor cells that integrate with the recipient site and form a thick, resilient gum margin. CTG consistently achieves the highest percentages of root coverage in clinical studies and produces tissue that closely matches the color and texture of the surrounding gums. Dr. Ahn uses a precise, minimally invasive palatal harvest technique that reduces donor-site discomfort and speeds palatal healing.
For patients who want to avoid a palatal harvest site, AlloDerm offers an alternative tissue source. AlloDerm is a processed acellular dermal matrix from donated human tissue that serves as a scaffold for your body's own cells to populate and remodel. It integrates with the surrounding gum tissue over several months and produces good root coverage results, particularly when placed using the tunnel technique. AlloDerm is especially useful for patients who need extensive grafting across many teeth in one session, where a palatal harvest of that size would be impractical, or for patients who have already had prior palatal harvests and have limited donor tissue remaining.
The tunnel technique is a minimally invasive surgical approach where the graft material is threaded beneath the existing gum tissue through a small sulcular entry, without reflecting a full flap or making vertical incisions. This preserves the periosteal blood supply to the overlying tissue, minimizes visible scarring, and promotes a natural tissue contour as it heals. The technique is ideal for treating multiple adjacent teeth in a single procedure and produces some of the most aesthetically refined results in soft tissue grafting. It requires significant microsurgical training and precise instrument control, which is why it is more commonly offered by periodontal specialists than general practitioners.
PRF is a biological concentrate prepared from your own blood at the start of the procedure. A small blood draw is processed in a centrifuge to produce a fibrin membrane concentrated with platelets, white blood cells, and growth factors. This membrane is placed over the graft site to enhance healing, reduce post-operative inflammation, and promote rapid tissue integration. PRF is not a grafting technique on its own -- it is an adjunctive healing accelerator that Dr. Ahn incorporates into most gum graft procedures to improve comfort and outcomes during the critical first weeks of recovery.
Gum graft surgery is performed with local anesthesia, and many patients do well with local alone. However, for multi-tooth grafting cases, patients with dental anxiety, or anyone who simply prefers not to be aware during surgery, Dr. Ahn offers IV sedation on-site at The Loft Dental Studio. IV sedation provides a deep state of relaxation where you remain breathing independently but have little to no awareness of the procedure. Most patients report feeling as though the entire surgery took only a few minutes.
For Newport Beach patients scheduling gum grafting with IV sedation, plan to have a driver bring you to and from the appointment. The sedation wears off over the course of the afternoon, and we recommend resting at home for the remainder of the day. The combination of IV sedation and PRF therapy means that many patients wake from the procedure with minimal discomfort and move into recovery more smoothly than they anticipated.
Our Costa Mesa office is right on the Newport Beach border -- 5 to 10 minutes from Corona del Mar, Balboa, Fashion Island, and Newport Coast. Free parking, Saturday hours available.
Call (714) 549-7030Gum grafting is a microsurgical procedure where technique directly determines the outcome. The difference between 60% root coverage and 100% root coverage often comes down to how the tissue is handled, how the graft is positioned, and how precisely the blood supply is managed during surgery. These are skills that develop through focused surgical residency training and daily repetition, not through continuing education seminars.
A board-certified periodontist completes three additional years of residency after dental school, dedicated exclusively to the diagnosis and surgical treatment of gum and bone conditions. Dr. Ahn's training at Yale emphasized microsurgical technique, evidence-based treatment planning, and regenerative periodontal procedures. He uses microsurgical instruments, optical magnification, and refined suturing techniques that allow tissue manipulation at a scale of precision that standard dental instruments cannot achieve.
For Newport Beach patients evaluating where to have their gum grafting done, the practical question is straightforward: a specialist who performs this procedure daily, with purpose-built instruments and deep anatomical knowledge, will produce more predictable coverage, more natural-looking tissue contours, and fewer complications than a practitioner who performs it occasionally. When you consider that a gum graft revision is more complex and less predictable than a primary graft, having it done correctly the first time is both the best clinical decision and the most cost-effective one.
The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa is located directly on the Newport Beach border in the South Coast Metro area, making us one of the closest gum grafting specialists for Newport Beach residents. Board-certified periodontist Dr. Chanook David Ahn performs connective tissue grafts, AlloDerm grafts, and tunnel technique procedures using microsurgical instruments and magnification. The office is 5 to 10 minutes from Corona del Mar, Balboa Peninsula, Fashion Island, and Newport Coast, with free parking and Saturday availability.
Most patients return to desk work within one to two days after gum graft surgery. The grafted area heals over two to three weeks, during which you follow a soft diet and a specific oral hygiene protocol designed to protect the graft while it integrates with the surrounding tissue. If a connective tissue graft was performed, palatal soreness from the donor site typically resolves within 7 to 10 days. Full tissue maturation -- where the grafted tissue blends in color and texture with the surrounding gums -- takes three to six months. PRF therapy accelerates the early healing phase and reduces post-operative swelling and discomfort.
Many PPO dental insurance plans provide coverage for gum grafting under their periodontal surgery benefits. Coverage amounts vary by plan. We are PPO providers for Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Our administrative team verifies your specific benefits before treatment begins and provides a written estimate of your anticipated out-of-pocket cost. FSA and HSA accounts can also be applied. Financing options are available for patients who prefer monthly payments.
A connective tissue graft uses your own tissue harvested from the palate. It produces the thickest coverage and has the longest track record of success in clinical studies. The trade-off is a donor site on the roof of your mouth that needs its own healing time. AlloDerm uses processed donor tissue, eliminating the palatal harvest and simplifying recovery. AlloDerm works particularly well when multiple teeth need grafting in one session or when palatal tissue is limited. Dr. Ahn evaluates your anatomy, recession pattern, and treatment goals to recommend the technique that will produce the best result for your specific case.
While some general dentists offer gum grafting, periodontists complete three years of additional surgical residency training focused on gums, bone, and the supporting structures of teeth. This training translates to higher root coverage percentages, more refined tissue aesthetics, and lower complication rates. A board-certified periodontist like Dr. Ahn uses microsurgical instruments and optical magnification that allow tissue handling at a precision level difficult to achieve with standard dental instruments. For a procedure where technique directly determines the outcome, specialist training makes a measurable difference.