U today’s time, the problem of receding gums or gingival recession is becoming increasingly common. The worst part is that gum recession is usually accompanied by exposure of the tooth root, which no longer has the protection of strong enamel like the crown of the tooth. The exposed root surface wears down, creating an indentation at the tooth neck area, which appears darker because exposed dentin is darker in color than the enamel of the tooth crown. In addition, these areas become highly sensitive to temperature changes.

Gingival recession can be caused by various factors:

Gum recession is often accompanied by significant wear of the exposed root area, revealing the darker underlying dentin layer.

In the image: The lower teeth were whitened, fillings were replaced, and the recession (receded gum) was slightly improved because worn areas were restored with pink composite material. This created the effect that these teeth no longer appear long or oversized.

1. natural recession caused by aging
2. excessive horizontal tooth brushing
3. anatomical variations – most commonly in patients with a thin gingival biotype and thin bone on the outer side of the tooth root

What can we do regarding gum recession?

We educate patients about the reasons why recession occurs and how to prevent it. It is important to explain and show patients if they have a thin gingival biotype and if they are more prone to developing recession in the future.

If recession has already been noticed, it is necessary to inform the patient about its presence and how it should be treated. Recessions are often associated with painful and sensitive tooth necks, especially sensitivity to cold, which patients often complain about, thinking they have tooth decay.

This is typical tooth neck hypersensitivity because this area has thin enamel, nerve endings are very close to the tooth surface, and they are exposed to different external stimuli. When the gum recedes, this area becomes even more exposed and sensitive.

Since the enamel in this area is very thin or already missing, the tooth wears much faster during brushing, creating so-called cervical defects – “indented areas” around the tooth neck that can be very sensitive to cold and also negatively affect aesthetics.

When gum recession with cervical defects is noticed, it is important to stop this process.

This can be done in several ways:

1. change the way you brush your teeth – always brush in circular movements and toward the tooth, as if trying to gently move the gum back onto the tooth, meaning “from red to white”
2. protect exposed tooth necks from further wear by discreetly restoring them with composite materials combined with special liquids that reduce cold sensitivity. In this way, improper brushing will wear the composite filling instead of the natural tooth structure
3. if there are very large and pronounced recessions where the root is already exposed, we usually recommend surgical coverage of that area. This is performed by transplanting the patient’s own soft tissue (usually from the palate) in order to gain several millimeters of gum height and cover the exposed areas