AbstractAimThe aim of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence, severity and extent of mid‐buccal gingival recessions (GRs; classified according to the 2018 Classification System) and to identify their risk indicators in the South American population.Materials and MethodsEpidemiological data from two cross‐sectional studies—performed on 1070 South American adolescents and 1456 Chilean adults—were obtained. All participants received a full‐mouth periodontal examination by calibrated examiners. GR prevalence was defined as the presence of at least one mid‐buccal GR ≥ 1 mm. GRs were also categorized into different recession types (RTs) according to the 2018 World Workshop Classification System. Analyses for RT risk indicators were also performed. All analyses were carried out at the participant level.ResultsThe prevalence of mid‐buccal GRs was 14.1% in South American adolescents and 90.9% in Chilean adults. In South American adolescents, the prevalence of RTs was 4.3% for RT1 GRs, 10.7% for RT2 GRs and 1.7% for RT3 GRs. In Chilean adults, the prevalence of RT1 GRs was 0.3%, while the prevalence of RT2 and RT3 GRs was 85.8% and 77.4%, respectively. Full‐Mouth Bleeding Score (FMBS; <25%) was associated with the presence of RT1 GRs in adolescents. The risk indicators for RT2/RT3 GRs mainly overlapped with those for periodontitis.ConclusionsMid‐buccal GRs affected 14.1% of South American adolescents, whereas they affected most of the Chilean adult population (>90%). While RT1 GRs are more commonly observed in a non‐representative cohort of South American adolescents (when compared to Chilean adults), the majority of Chilean adults exhibit RT2/RT3 GRs.