Gum recession is one of the gum problem areas that are easily identifiable by a patient. For instance, when the recession is in the front of the mouth, it is very often noticeable. But, important to know, is that recession may occur on any of the teeth.

There are two types of gum tissues that surround the tooth. The part surrounds the neck of the tooth and is attached to the tooth and underlying bone, and is called attached gingiva which is immovable and tough. Below the attached gingiva is looser gum called the alveolar mucosa which contains muscle, and is flexible to allow movement of the cheeks and lips. The muscles in the alveolar mucosa are constantly contracting, which pulls on the bottom edge of the attached gingiva. Normally the attached gingiva is wide and strong enough to act as a barrier, which prevents the gum from being pulled down (receding).

There are people who are born without sufficient attached gingiva to prevent the muscle in the alveolar mucosa from pulling the gum down. In cases such as these,  the gum slowly continues to recede over time, even though the patient may have given much attention to their oral hygiene. This is not an infection, as is seen with periodontal disease, but rather simply an natural condition. Still, bone recession is occurring at the same time the gum is receding.

If you believe you have gum recession,
you should be evaluated as soon as possible.
Each case is unique and treatment will be individualized to your particular situation.

The replacement of missing attached gum is called gingival grafting. A small piece of attached gingiva is taken from the roof of the mouth, and transplanted to the site. The new tissue reattaches and reforms a new layer of attached gum, which should last a lifetime with proper care. The roof of the mouth actually heals quite quickly. With this procedure the root is not covered, and the tissue stays at the same level as before, except with attached gingiva at the margin. These procedures don't provide a hardship to the patient, and rarely require more than an over-the-counter pain medication post-operatively. The most inconvenient part of the surgery is not chewing on the area for 2 weeks.

Routine gum grafts do not cover up the exposed root surface. If this is preferred then a different technique is used (more information is under Cosmetic Procedures). Actually, covering the root does not make the tooth stronger.