Treat Receding Gums With the Pinhole Surgical Technique

Receding gums, also known as gingival recession, are a prevalent problem, especially in older individuals. In fact, a study found that 88% of people over 65 have gum recession in at least one tooth. The traditional method for treating gingival recession is soft-tissue grafting, but many patients are afraid of the treatment because of the notion that grafting can be very painful. This reluctance has sparked innovation, leading to the Pinhole Surgical Technique in San Diego to treat gum recession.

What are Receding Gums?

Gingival recession is when the gums wear down or pull back from the tooth. The receding gums reveal more of the tooth, and in some cases, this leaves the root of the tooth exposed. This can lead to the tooth being overly sensitive and weaken the gum tissue surrounding the tooth.

Normally we need strong, firm, non-moving gum tissue to surround and protect our teeth, but the weak tissue caused by gingival recession can create pockets of space between the gumline and the tooth. These little pockets are magnets for bacteria that can eventually lead to serious gum disease. If gum recession is not corrected and treated, the structure of the teeth and tissue around it can be catastrophically damaged, leading to tooth loss.

What is the Pinhole Surgical Technique?

The Pinhole Surgical Technique may be a treatment option for those with gingival recession, offering a minimally invasive alternative to more complicated gum recession procedures that features grafting or sutures. By combining aspects of the coronally positioned flap technique and the tunnel technique, the Pinhole Surgical Technique may be an efficient and effective way to treat gum recession.

How Does the Pinhole Surgical Technique Treat Gum Recession?

As the name of the treatment suggests, the Pinhole Surgical Technique begins by creating a small pinhole into the movable gum tissue located near the tip of the tooth root where the gum recession is present. Once the pinhole is made, a device is inserted through the hole to stretch and peel the gums back, pushing it towards the crown of the tooth.

Once in place, instead of using stitches to keep it there, the Pinhole Surgical Technique uses collagen strips, inserting the strips through the pinhole. The strips are then used to hold the gum tissue in place, creating the new tissue support and assisting in the healing process. The healing period allows the body creating a new gum tissue attachment to the new location.

What are the Advantages of the Pinhole Surgical Technique?

The primary advantage of the Pinhole Surgical Technique is that multiple teeth can be treated in one sitting. When using more traditional treatments for gingival recession it may require multiple grafting sessions if you have a recession on multiple teeth. Pinhole Surgical Technique can be used to treat the entire mouth in just one sitting. It also makes for a less painful recovery and is a faster procedure than grafting.

The Pinhole Surgical Technique is a Great Way to Treat Gum Recession

The Pinhole Surgical Technique is a minimally invasive, less painful, and faster way to treat receding gums then the more traditional methods, making it a great alternative to treat gingival recession. If you would like to request a consultation for gum recession or other dental issues, give us a call at (619) 543-0905.  

For additional information, watch this video providing a visual representation of how the procedure works.