10/24/2026
“Wait… has this tooth always looked this long?” 👀
Sometimes you don’t notice a change in your smile until you catch it in a photo.
One tooth looks a little longer.
The gumline seems uneven.
Or suddenly, more of your tooth is showing than you remember.
And you start wondering… am I imagining this?
Here’s something interesting: Your adult teeth aren’t growing longer. Your gums may be receding.
Gum recession happens when gum tissue gradually moves away from a tooth, sometimes exposing part of the root.
It can happen for several reasons, including gum disease, aggressive brushing, thin gum tissue, and tooth positioning.
And it’s not always painful.
Some people notice sensitivity to cold. Others see a change in their smile long before they feel anything unusual.
The good news? There are treatment options, depending on the cause and extent of the recession.
At Dr. Pratt DMD in Pendleton, Oregon, one option for appropriate patients is the Pinhole® Surgical Technique — a minimally invasive approach that repositions existing gum tissue through small access points, without the traditional incisions and sutures used in gum grafting.
It’s not the right approach for everyone, which is why understanding your gum health comes first.
Because sometimes the smallest changes in your smile are worth the biggest conversations.
💬 When you look at a photo of yourself, what do you notice first?
🦷 Your teeth
🌿 Your gumline
✨ The color of your smile
Tell us below!
📌 Save this if you’ve ever wondered why one tooth looks longer than the others.
Robert Alan Pratt, DMD
541.276.4257
