Pinhole Surgical Technique
San Luis Obispo, CA
If you have receding gums, our team can help you receive the treatment you need. We use the pinhole surgical technique to minimize any signs of scars from an incision. The pinhole surgical technique can deliver more predictable results and a more pleasant experience for the patient.
Pinhole surgical technique (PST) is a less invasive approach to treating gum recession than traditional gum grafting. The treatment does not involve the use of incisions or sutures. Our periodontist will help ensure the patient remains comfortable during the procedure.
Call us at 805-952-1147 to schedule an appointment to learn if this technique is the right option for you.
What is the Pinhole Surgical Technique?
The conventional approach to treating gum recession involves the use of soft tissue grafts or donor tissues. Soft tissues are usually extracted from the root of the mouth, directly or by cutting a flap into it and extracting tissues from underneath the flap. Gum grafting is an effective way to treat gum disease, but patients have to deal with some pain, swelling, bleeding, and discomfort during the recovery period.
The most common cause of gum recession is periodontal disease, but it can also be the result of other factors like genetics, poor oral hygiene, or brushing too hard. In rare cases, gum recession can occur after oral appliances like braces. Gum recession is a serious oral issue that leaves teeth roots exposed to decay. It can lead to teeth becoming loose or falling out.
How the Pinhole Surgical Technique Works
Traditional gum grafts usually involve extracting tissues from the patient's palate. The treatment can also be done using donor tissues. It is a surgical procedure that involves placing gum tissues, overexposed teeth roots, and stitching them into place. Our team will help keep the patients comfortable and prevent
Patients experience pain and discomfort for the first few days after gum grafts. Many dentists agree the recovery period – which can last up to four weeks – can be rough. It restricts patients to liquid and soft meals for the first week. The process starts by preparing the patient's teeth by cleaning tartar off them. We will then use an anesthetic to the areas we will work on, so the patient does not feel any pain.
Pinhole surgical technique involves using a tiny needle to make a hole into the patient's gum tissues underneath areas with receding gums. Special instruments are inserted into the pinhole and used to loosen gum tissues there. The tool helps reposition the gum line, so it covers the exposed root. The entire process does not involve the use of incisions, sutures, or grafts. This procedure involves shifting the position of the patient's existing gum tissues. Collagen is then inserted into the hole to give the gums extra stability.
Unlike traditional gum grafts that can only treat one or two teeth at a time, PST can be used to treat a patient's entire mouth during a single visit. It usually takes about 20 minutes to treat a few teeth with gum recession using this technique, and it only takes about 90 minutes to treat all of the patient's teeth.
Benefits of the Pinhole Surgical Technique
The benefits that come with choosing the pinhole surgical technique over traditional gum grafting include:
- Patients experience significantly less discomfort after the treatment
- The recovery period is shorter with PST treatments
- The is no need for the periodontist to use surgical tools like scalpels
- There is no need to harvest donor tissue from the patient’s palate
- There is no need for sutures
- Results can be noticeable immediately
- It leads to great results that last
Recovering and Aftercare
Given the minimally invasive nature of the pinhole surgical technique, there is not much of a recovery period. Unlike traditional gum grafts that can take up to a month to recover from, patients should be able to resume regular eating a few hours after their treatment. Most patients might experience increased teeth sensitivity for the first few days after.
With the pinhole surgical technique, the position of the patient's gumline is restored by the time their treatment is over. Our team will also help ensure the patient has everything they need to continue their recovery.
Call Us Today
Are you experiencing receding gums? There is no need to go through the pain that comes after traditional gum grafts when there is an alternative that does not have much of a recovery period. Call or visit our San Luis Obispo clinic to learn more about how PST can be used to treat receding gums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the pinhole surgical technique painful?
No. The patient is given a shot of a local anesthetic at the start of the treatment, and the process only requires the periodontist to make a small hole into the patient's gum tissue. Not only is the process painless, so is the recovery process. Most patients only deal with increased teeth sensitivity to hot and cold foods/beverages.
Why should I choose PST over traditional gum grafting?
Traditional gum grafting has one of the most painful recovery periods a patient can find themselves dealing with. It requires making incisions, extracting tissues, and suturing these tissues overexposed teeth roots. The recovery period requires eating only liquid and soft foods for the first week, and recovery can last a month. PST has no significant recovery period.
How quickly can I expect to see results?
Patients who opt for PST get to enjoy noticeable results by the time their treatment is over. It can take weeks to get the desired result with traditional gum grafts.
What is the success rate with PST?
The pinhole surgical technique does not require making incisions, sutures, or extracting gum tissues, so patients heal faster. About 95% of people who get PST are satisfied with the improved aesthetics of their smile.
What can I eat after PST?
Most patients can eat what they like hours after their treatment. If extensive work was done of the patient's gum tissues, it is best to stick to softer foods for the first few days after treatment.