Gingival recession is defined as the apical displacement of the gingival ridge (GR) with the corresponding radicular surface exposition and it is a frequent problem in clinical practice; cross-sectional studies report that more than 50% of the population has one or more areas with GR of 1 mm or greater. The aetiology is multi-factorial and related to anatomical, physiological and pathological factors, with the main indications for treatment being aesthetic problems, hyper-sensitivity control and development or increment of keratinised tissue. An important factor which has not been taken into account is the patient’s perception and if it is or not a problem. A study evaluated said situation in 12o patients indicating that the perception of defects has to be considered when making clinical decisions because a very small portion of GRs are perceived – mostly asymptomatic, without an aesthetic or functional problem. To evaluate patient perception regarding existing vestibular GR and verify their requests for treatment and symptomatic. A survey and periodontal clinical examination were applied to patients who complied with selection criteria and attended the periodontal and oral medicine clinic. There were 2153 evaluated teeth from which 46% presented GR and 54% did not; 71% of the GRs were not perceived and 29% were by reasons such as aesthetics (58%), asymptomatic (21%), hypersensitivity (5%) or combined (16%). There was a high prevalence of GR perception; all patients presented GR but not all perceived most of it. This prevalence may be associated with having had surgical and non-surgical periodontal treatment. For this reason perception of vestibular GR in this study may be overestimated.