Pinhole Surgical Technique Costs
Many patients dread being told by their dentist that in order to properly resolve their receding teeth is to have them removed and replaced with dentures. There are various ways to improve the effects of gum recession, however, a new technique was developed in the past few years called the pinhole surgical technique dc. A common question from patients is how much does the pinhole surgical technique cost? The technique can be quite expensive and may not be available in your area.
It is common for people to experience gum recession as they age, but there are other factors that may contribute to the issue. Other contributing factors to gum disease can include genetics and gum disease. Aggressive and overly frequent brushing of your teeth can also cause inflammation which leads to the misplacement of the gum tissue.
Gum recession can give the teeth a longer appearance and the tooth root, which is normally hidden, can become exposed. Pockets or spaces can start to form at the area where the teeth join to the gum line. This provides an excellent opportunity for bacteria attach and causes additional damage to the surrounding tissue and bone.
Pinhole Surgical Technique for Severe Gum Recession
The traditional treatment used for gum recession is a connective tissue graft. This is commonly used in the worst cases of progressive gum recession. A flap of the patient’s skin is removed from the palate and some tissue is taken away from beneath the flap and then attached to the gum tissue that surrounds the exposed root.
Connective tissue grafts take a while to complete as only one or two teeth can be treated in a single visit. In addition, it can up to two weeks to fully heal. The pinhole surgical technique (PST), however, is far less invasive, less painful and requires less time to heal. PST involves a small puncture hole in the gum which doesn’t require any incisions or sutures. The procedure was developed by the dentist John Chao in the United States.
Pinhole Surgical Technique Process
Through the Pinhole Surgical Technique, a small needle is used to make a small hole in the existing gum tissue. Special instruments are then used to gently loosen the gum tissue through the pinhole. These special tools aid in expanding and sliding the gumline to cover the exposed root structure. Grafts, sutures and incisions are not required with the Pinhole Surgical Technique. PST simply involves an adjustment of the existing tissue.
A local anesthetic is typically used for the procedure and it takes about an hour to complete. The treatment involves minimal pain and typically only slight discomfort immediately following the procedure.
The benefits of the Pinhole Surgical Technique include the following:
- Reduced pain following the treatment
- Quicker recovery compared to traditional gum grafting
- Sutures are not used
- Scalpels and invasive surgical tools are not needed
- Donor tissue is not taken from the patient’s palate
- The results are almost immediate and produce a natural looking smile
While this new treatment is exciting and a great option for many patients, it is not suitable for everyone. There are strict guidelines regarding food intake and oral hygiene which must be followed after the treatment.
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