Background: Data from cross-sectional studies revealed that gingival recession commonly occurred in subjects with a good standard of oral hygiene, but very little has been reported about longitudinal changes in the presence and extent of gingival recession in a similar sample of the population. The aim of this study was to follow up on the evolution of gingival recession at buccal tooth surfaces in a student population attending the fifth year at Bologna University Dental School who had been examined in a study 5 years earlier.

Methods: The clinical examination involved assessment of the number of buccal surfaces with plaque and buccal gingival recession. Information about toothbrushing habits (brushing technique and frequency and toothbrush bristle stiffness) was collected in an interview.

Results: The number of subjects with at least one recession and the total number of recessions had increased significantly. Comparing data from the baseline and the present study, no significant differences were observed for toothbrush type and frequency of toothbrushing, whereas the use of correct brushing techniques increased to 87% of the subjects.

Conclusion: The percentage of affected sites increased with the level of oral hygiene education, and this increase developed despite a reduction in the frequency of dangerous toothbrushing habits.