An updated evidence‐based recommendation for the treatment of gingival recession associated with non‐carious cervical lesions
Gum recession often occurs alongside defects in the tooth that are not caused by cavities. These two conditions can appear on the same tooth in about half of the cases. When that happens, treatment becomes more complex and requires careful planning. Choosing the best approach depends on the shape and severity of the tooth defect. This recommendation helps dentists and patients understand how to manage these combined problems. Most cases fall into mild categories (A-, A+, and B-; i.e., shallow tooth defects) and can be treated with standard procedures for gum recession alone. However, about 25% of cases have a more advanced defect (B+; i.e., deep tooth defects), which requires both a tooth restoration and gum surgery. The way gum recession is treated also depends on how thick the gum tissue is. If the tissue is thin, using the patient's own tissue for a graft usually gives the best results. If the tissue is already thick, a graft may not be necessary. In moderate cases, a graft using either patient tissue or commercial materials can improve long-term success. This recommendation summarizes the latest research and provides practical guidance to improve treatment outcomes for both patients and clinicians.
Authors
- Ingrid Fernandes Mathias‐Santamaria (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2518-0135)
- Shayan Barootchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5347-6577)
- Lorenzo Tavelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4864-3964)
- Giovan Paolo Pini Prato
- Mauro Pedrine Santamaria
Institutions
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Kentucky (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Periodontology
- Published
- 2026-01-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/jper.70049
- Primary Topic
- Periodontal Regeneration and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00