PINHOLE® TREATMENT FOR GUM RECESSION

As a certified Chao Pinhole® Gum Rejuvenation (also called the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique – PST) specialists, our periodontists use specially designed instruments to enable this suture-free, scalpel-free, donor-free and minimally invasive procedure to treat gum recession.

In the past, conventional gum grafting, an effective but sometimes uncomfortable procedure, meant cutting into the palate in order to obtain graft material for a section of gum to position onto the receding tooth area. The shifted soft tissue would be sutured in place and would slowly join with existing gum tissue as it healed. While this traditional grafting treatment is still effective, comparable results – with better overall patient experience – can be achieved through the Chao Pinhole® technique.

With Chao Pinhole® Gum Rejuvenation, esthetic enhancement is nearly instant thanks to a tiny (0.1”) “pinhole” entry point made with a specially designed instrument. The tool frees gingival (gum) tissue and glides the tissue over the receded part of the tooth, covering the exposed area. Tiny collagen strips placed at the site of the recession plump up and help hold the loosened gum tissue in place. No sutures are required and recovery is fast since the tiny pinhole entry point often heals within only 24 hours.

Why Do Gums Recede?

Gum recession and tooth loss are often caused by periodontal diseases and bacterial gum infections that destroy gum tissue and the supporting bone that holds our teeth in place. Other causes of gum recession can include a history of aggressive brushing, misalignment of bite or crooked teeth, genetic predisposition (30% of the population!), inadequate preventative dental care, tobacco usage, clenching or grinding your teeth, body piercing of the lip or tongue or hormonal changes.

You may be surprised to know that gums also can recede after certain orthodontic therapies. In many cases the recession doesn’t begin until years after orthodontics have finished. The people who are most at risk are those who have thin gum and bone tissues and also have crowded teeth, but having an evaluation prior to orthodontics is a good idea to help prevent gum recession. This is especially true for adults who are considering braces. In many cases our doctors will treat the gum tissue before and/or during the orthodontic therapy to achieve the best long-term result.

Key Benefits of the Pinhole® Procedure

• Gum recession can often be corrected in as little as one office visit
• Tiny pinholes made in the gum usually heal within 24 hours
• The procedure can prevent tooth loss
• There’s no need for scalpels, sutures or invasive dental tools
• The results are long-lasting and natural looking
• Patients recover much faster than with traditional grafting
• Patients experience little to no discomfort after treatment
• There’s no need for “donor” tissue to be taken from the patient’s palate

To schedule your no-obligation Pinhole consultation, please contact us today at 561-912-9993.

Interest-free or low interest payment plans are available for those who qualify and wish to pay their care over time. Click here to learn more or call our office.