INTRODUCTION: Gingival recession, also known as receding gums, is the exposure in the roots of the teeth caused by a loss of gum tissue and/or retraction of the gingival margin from the crown of the teeth. The aetiology of the condition is multifactorial but is commonly associated with underlying alveolar morphology, tooth brushing, mechanical trauma and periodontal disease PURPOSE: To highlight the importance of covering gingival recessions and the presentation of various surgical techniques of covering receding gums METHOD: A review of the literature of the last five years was performed, with keywords such as: gingival recession, surgical flaps, root coverage techniques. RESULTS: Main reasons of covering gingival recessions are thermal hyperesthesia and esthetics of the oral cavity. The root coverage can be achieved by using free gingival graft tissue from the hard palate of the patient or biomaterials such as bovine and synthetic material. CONCLUSIONS: The choice of the right technique for covering the gum recession plays an important role in the treatment plan. However, the surgeon should be experienced and make all the proper treatment planning choices for the esthetic result