Gingival recession, or receding gums, is a common problem for many people seeking dental services. Receding gums can cause pain, swelling, bleeding, bad breath, sensitive teeth, and even tooth loss. The solution to this problem for many years was a soft-tissue grafting procedure that can be both lengthy and painful.
Fortunately, advances in dental technology now allow the team at Dalton Dental to offer our patients a simpler and less painful procedure to correct gingival recession, known as the pinhole gum graft or pinhole gum rejuvenation technique. This minimally invasive procedure shifts existing gum tissue into a healthier position using special tools…no sutures or scalpel necessary.
How the Pinhole Surgical Technique Works
When you receive the pinhole gum graft technique to correct your gingival recession, your dentist will begin by poking a hole into your receding gum tissue. Then, they will place a special tool inside the pinhole in order to stretch the gum until it has reached an optimal position.
Instead of having to stitch your mouth back up like you would with a traditional soft-tissue graft, your dentist only needs to insert a small collagen strip into the pinhole in order to keep it in place so that more healthy gum tissue can grow.
This technique is not only far less painful than soft-tissue grafting, but it’s also much quicker. What might take several visits to the dentist with a traditional soft-tissue graft can be done in a single visit with a pinhole graft.
Advantages of the Pinhole Gum Graft Technique
Here are some of the many benefits of choosing the pinhole gum graft technique over soft-tissue grafting to correct gingival recession.
Less Painful and Easier Recovery
Because this procedure doesn’t require sections of your gum to be removed and replaced, it is far less painful and has a much easier recovery period. A pinhole gum graft can be a better alternative to a traditional soft-tissue gum graft. That’s because a pinhole gum graft requires a shorter recovery period and only one healing site in the mouth.
Looks Natural and Lasts a Lifetime
Soft-tissue gum grafting can significantly change the look and feel of the patient’s gums, which can be very uncomfortable for some. The pinhole gum graft technique has a far more natural look because it uses the surrounding gum tissue in place of tissue from the palate or from a donor. With proper oral hygiene and care, a pinhole gum graft can last a lifetime.
Before and After Pictures–Pinhole Gum Graft
Here are examples of Pinhole Gum Grafts, including advanced laser techniques, and gum recontouring. This advanced procedure uses no sutures or scalpels as well as takes no gums from the roof of your mouth.
A Good Option for Those with Dental Anxiety
The idea of sutures and scalpels can be enough to make someone avoid the dentist altogether. The pinhole technique helps patients to avoid those things so that they can get the treatment that they need.