Receding gums can make teeth look longer or feel more sensitive. We assess what is causing the change and whether monitoring, changes to your daily care or gum grafting would help.

Understanding gum recession

Gum recession exposes part of the tooth root. It can be associated with thin gum tissue, inflammation, traumatic brushing, tooth position or previous orthodontic movement. The cause and pattern of recession influence the treatment we recommend.

When to seek advice

You may notice teeth looking longer, sensitivity near the gumline or difficulty keeping an area clean. Recession does not always mean you need surgery, but an assessment helps identify whether it is stable or progressing.

How grafting may help

A soft tissue graft adds tissue around a tooth or implant. Depending on your needs, treatment may aim to cover an exposed root, increase gum thickness or improve the tissue available for comfortable cleaning. Complete root coverage is not possible in every case.

Your treatment plan

We examine the gums and tooth position, discuss your concerns and explain the likely benefits and limitations. Where grafting is appropriate, tissue may come from the roof of your mouth or a suitable substitute. We discuss the material and procedure before treatment.

Recovery and ongoing care

Local anaesthetic is used for the procedure. Tenderness, swelling or sensitivity can occur afterwards, and healing varies with the area treated. We provide instructions for eating and cleaning, and review your healing. Gentle daily care and regular monitoring remain important; grafting cannot guarantee that recession will never return.