[Etiology of gingival recessions].

About every third patient of our department suffers from gingival recessions (g. r.): 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987 altogether 1039 patients from 4022. People at the age of 20-25 years are mainly affected: 44.4% of these patients in the age-group of 20-25 years suffer from g. r., 28.3% of patients suffering from l.P.a. are 20-25 years old. Patients diseased with g. r. (N = 60) show functional disturbances (79% at the 1st bicuspid, 72% at the 2nd bicuspid) during their occlusion movements to a great extent. Patients afflected by g.r. (N = 20) show in comparison to healthy people a smaller diameter of the canin's apical basis both in upper and lower jaw, a smaller circumference of the alveolar crest as well as an upper canin-crown which is turned out from the teeth arcus in a more labial direction. Prevention of g. r. involves individual oral health education to protect the vestibular gingiva from chronic brushing-trauma, an early follow-up, and a functional adjustment.