Receding gums around teeth can occur for a number of reasons:
- Periodontitis
- Trauma from dentures
- Adaptive changes to orthodontic tooth movement
- Traumatic occlusion
- Habits; nail biting, pencil chewing etc.
- Other bacterial and viral infections
- Trauma from history of excessive brushing
- Anatomical and developmental bone deficiency at the tooth site
- Muscle and soft tissue traction close to the gum line
- A thin tissue around the neck of the tooth or implant (higher susceptibility)
- A combination of two or more of the above factors
Gum recession can be limited to one tooth or implant only, or a number of teeth may have been affected.
In some cases, a gum graft is indicated for the following reasons:
- Aesthetic correction
- Prevent/correct root and tooth sensitivity
- Prevent further progression of the recession and tooth loss
- Provide good soft tissue support around the neck of the tooth
- Prevent/correct gum laceration with routine brushing
- Protect the root surface from wear (root surface is not as hard as the white enamel and can wear down in a relatively short time)