Teeth, gums and other treatmentsQuestion during treatment

If the root of a tooth has become exposed (gum recession), can this be corrected by moving the tooth?

Answered byDr Ivelina Ivanova-Koycheva, Orthodontist (MSc)Master's degrees in orthodontics in Rome and in aligner treatment in Turin, international lecturerPublished on 12 November 2026

A tooth with recession (a receding gum) can be moved so that the gum sits in a more favourable position and covers part of the recession. This doesn't mean that the bone lost around the root can be restored. Once a tooth has moved outside the boundaries of the hard bone, even partially, it is left with less bone around its root.

This answer is for general information. Your own case needs an examination by an orthodontist.