Pinhole Surgical Technique Can Fix Your Gums Quickly!
Traditional gum surgery is a thing of the past. Specially trained dentists now offer patients that need gum surgery the pinhole surgical technique. This new process is fast, has very little pain afterward, and it is permanent.
About the Pinhole Surgical Technique
This new treatment for receding gums was invented by Dr. John Chao, DDS, MAGD. He is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Buffalo, SUNY.
When developing the process, Dr. Chao wanted a technique that would be minimally invasive and much less painful than traditional surgery. Too many patients who needed the surgery to protect their teeth were refusing it because of what they had heard from others who had undergone the process.
This new process that he created is completely free of scalpels and sutures. There is no cutting involved at all. This fact means that there will be minimal pain and swelling during the recovery period and enables faster healing because no blood vessels are cut.
Traditional Gum Graft Surgery
When tooth roots become exposed due to receding gums, they are very susceptible to developing cavities. Gum disease is also a very real possibility. The roots do not have the same enamel protection on them that the tooth crowns have. When the gums are healthy and in a good position, it will naturally protect the roots.
After the gums have receded, they are not going to grow back. One form of traditional gum graft surgery would take tissue from the roof of the mouth and place it on the tooth roots and then it would be sutured in place. This meant that it would be painful in two places in the mouth for about two to three weeks.
Because of the pain factor, and the limitations of tissue in the roof of the mouth, only one-quarter of the mouth could be treated at a time. In order to complete the treatment for all the teeth, which may involve four surgeries – it could take more than a year before the gums were fully repaired. This meant that the patient had to deal with a lot of pain and discomfort and was very limited in diet while the gums heal.
Another process involved using donor tissue. This would prevent the need for cutting into the palate. The tissue still needed to be sutured to the gums.
How the Pinhole Surgery Works
When compared to gum graft surgery, the pinhole surgical technique is much more feasible and pleasant for patients. The process avoids the painful cutting and suturing because it uses gum tissue that is already in place – it simply readjusts it to cover up the exposed roots.
The dentist starts by giving local anesthesia. After that takes effect, a tiny hole – the size of a needlepoint will be made in the gums above the teeth that need to be covered. Each hole can be used to move the gums for two or three teeth.
The dentist will insert a special tool into the hole. It will be used to loosen the gums and then slid into the desired position. Once it is in place, the dentist will insert a collagen strip and place it on the tooth root under the gum. This strip will hold them in their new position and will also aid in faster healing.
The Cause of Gum Recession
Gum disease is the most common cause of receding gums. If not treated in the early stages, it becomes periodontitis. About 50 percent of adult Americans have this disease, and it is the major reason for tooth loss among adults. If gum disease is not treated, the bacteria that are causing it will destroy the gums, the ligaments that support your teeth, and the bone.
Why the Pinhole Surgical Technique Is Better
- Less pain – Because there is no cutting or sutures, there is much less pain. It can usually be handled with over-the-counter medications.
- Quick recovery – Patients only need a short time to recover. Many can resume their normal activities on the same day – or the next.
- Cost-effective – Instead of requiring multiple surgeries as would be needed with traditional gum surgery, pinhole surgery only needs one appointment.
- See immediate results – Results with traditional gum grafts could not be seen until the gum surgeries were completed. The pinhole process lets you see immediate results as soon as the surgery is completed.
- Permanent results – The results can be expected to be permanent. The exception is that some gum recession can be expected because of age.
Candidates for the Procedure
Potential candidates need to meet some basic qualifications. Since it is the cause of gum recession, the primary qualification is that they must be free of gum disease.
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