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Background: This cross-sectional study verified the self perception of different observers on gingival recession.Methods: Areas of gingival recession were digitally modified using software simulating different clinical conditions in the esthetic area. A total of 180 individuals (60 dentists, 60 patients, and 60 dental students) participated in this study. From an original photograph of the smile of a volunteer, five cases of gingival recession (GR), including unilateral recession (lateral incisor and canine), bilateral recession (lateral incisor and canine), and generalized recession in upper anterior teeth, were intentionally created with Adobe Photoshop 2015™ image-editing software. The participants analyzed the photographs with scores of 1 (very pleasant), 2 (pleasant), and 3 (unpleasant). The data were evaluated using Student's t-test and ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test at p less than 0.05.Results: Unilateral recession was considered more esthetically pleasing when compared to bilateral recession, showing a signifi cant difference for all groups (p less than 0.05). Patients considered generalized recession and bilateral recession of upper canines less esthetic (p less than 0.05).Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, it could be concluded that dentists have better visual perception when compared to dental students, who in turn were more perceptive than patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]