Areas of recession can be successfully repaired. One of the goals is to prevent further recession, a secondary goal (although frequently an important one) is covering the exposed root surface. There are several reasons to treat these areas.
- Continued gum recession
- Esthetic concerns (long teeth)
- Dental restorative margins that with touch the gum margin
- Proposed orthodontic therapy
- Continued abrasion of the exposed root surface
- Thermal sensitivity (especially to cold) from root exposure
Gum recession can be treated in several ways, all of which involve gently lifting the existing gum tissue. The goal is to establish a band of healthy, strong bound-down tissue. Several types of materials can be used for augmentation. The material that has the greatest longevity and the best long-term results is the patient’s own gum. The tissue is harvested from an area that has the type of strong gum needed, then placed underneath the tissue in the graft site. In selected cases, a specific type of human donor tissue can be used as a substitute. These two materials have the best long-term results.

