Hi doctors, can you tell me what is gum recession and periodontal pockets?

Recession is loss: Gum recession is the position of the gums below the junction of the enamel and cementum on the root surface. Periodontal pockets are the measurement of depth of the gums next to the teeth, where the gums come in contact to the tooth. A periodontal pocket is very similar to your pants pocket: the tooth is the material against your leg and the gum tissue is the outer side of the pocket.

Both are bone loss: Gum recession occurs when you've lost the bone and the gum around the tooth. There can be a combination of causes. Grinding, over scrubbing, developmental defects, or gum disease. A periodontal pocket means you've lost bone but not the gum around a tooth. This is an indicator of periodontal disease. See a periodontist for either of these things.