Gum Recession: What It Is, Causes, and Why the Tooth Neck Becomes Exposed

Noticed that your gum has receded and your tooth looks longer? The first thought is usually "it's nothing, it'll go away on its own," the second is "what if I lose the tooth." Let's calmly sort out what this means.

What gum recession is

Gum recession is the displacement of the gingival margin in the apical direction, that is, toward the root, relative to the cementoenamel junction of the tooth. Simply put: the gum margin pulls away from the neck, and the root surface becomes exposed. The word itself comes from the Latin recessus — "a retreat."

In everyday speech the same thing is called by different names: gum drop, receding gums, retractions, gum retraction, tooth recession. The meaning is the same. It can be local, when the gum has receded on one tooth, or generalized — on several teeth or the entire row.

Why the gum recedes: main causes

Doctors consider recession a polyetiological condition: there can be many causes, and a combination of several factors is more common than a single isolated cause.

• Anatomical features: a thin vestibular gingival biotype, thinning or absence of the bone plate over the root, incorrect tooth position in the row, short frenula and mucosal bands.
• Traumatic tooth brushing with a hard brush and excessive force.
• Chronic periodontitis and the associated loss of attachment.
• Orthodontic movement of teeth beyond the alveolar bone.
• Lip or tongue piercing, smoking, and age-related changes in periodontal tissues.

Signs: exposed tooth neck and sensitivity

The main visible sign is elongation of the crown portion of the tooth: it appears longer because the cementum and dentin of the root have become exposed. A frequent companion is hyperesthesia of the exposed dentin: pain from thermal, mechanical, and chemical stimuli.

Added to this are aesthetic discomfort and an increased risk of cervical caries and wedge-shaped defects against the background of an exposed root. If the gum bleeds when brushing, hurts, and is swollen, and there is bad breath — it looks like gum disease, and that should be checked as well.

Localized and generalized recession

Recession can be localized — in the area of one tooth — or generalized, when it covers several teeth or the entire dental arch. The causes act separately or in combination.

Why recession is dangerous for teeth

An exposed neck in itself is not a death sentence. But the exposed root is less protected: caries appears more easily on it, and wedge-shaped defects form.

If the cause is periodontitis, the matter is more serious: without treatment, the bone, gums, and connective tissue that hold the tooth are destroyed. Then mobility, loosening, and tooth loss appear, and a dental abscess is possible.

How recession is assessed and when to see a dentist

At the appointment, the doctor measures the depth and width of the recession, assesses the gingival biotype, the presence of keratinized tissue, the condition of the interdental papillae, and tooth mobility. For planning, the 1985 Miller classification with four classes based on papilla involvement and bone loss in the interdental space is used, as well as the 2011 Cairo system with types RT1, RT2, and RT3 based on the level of clinical attachment.

You should see a dentist if the gum bleeds when brushing or when eating hard food, the gums hurt and are swollen, or there is bad breath. An unscheduled visit is requested for very painful swollen gums, tooth mobility, ulcers or red spots in the mouth, or a growth in the mouth or on the lip. The routine guideline is an examination once every 2 years, and before age 18 once a year.

Gum recession in itself is not a reason to call an ambulance; 103/112 — if difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe unstoppable bleeding, or rapidly increasing swelling of the face or neck appears.

This is reference material; it does not replace a doctor's consultation: only an examination will show what exactly is happening with the gum in your case.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer