What is Pinhole Gum Surgery?

The Pinhole Surgical Technique is a minimally invasive procedure which is used to correct receding gums. It does not require the use of scalpels, sutures or grafts. John Chao, D.D.S., M.A.G.D., created the technique.

While the Pinhole Surgical Technique alexandria va is an extremely technical procedure, it is quicker to complete compared to traditional techniques and requires relatively low overhead.

Pinhole Surgical Technique

In order to perform the procedure, a dentist uses a needle to make a small hole in the area which is impacted by the recession. The work is all completed through this small pinhole. The dentist will use Dr. Chao’s patented instruments to loosen the gingiva from the bone. Once the gingiva has been loosened, the dentist will gently glide it over the receded area. The procedure does not require any cutting or sutures. Patients experience minimal post-operative pain, swelling or bleeding.

While the Pinhole Surgical Technique is minimally invasive, the post-operative instructions are strict and rigorous. Patients must use caution and closely follow the instructions to avoid reversing the procedure. Some of the main restrictions include not brushing, flossing or using a Waterpik for up to six weeks. Patients must be extremely gentle with the gingiva to allow it to properly heal.

In addition to the strict hygiene instructions, patient must also follow a soft-food diet. Biting into certain foods which may be hard can disturb the tissue which is recovering. Candy, gum, sticky and crunchy foods are not allowed following the procedure. Drinks should be lukewarm and the patient should not drink anything hot, like soup, coffee or tea. During that time, patients should not drink alcohol or smoke.

For patients with a history of clenching their jaw or grinding their teeth, it is important to wear a guard or retainer during the recovery period. Patients who have sleep apnea are also not allowed to use a CPAP device during their recovery. It is important for patients to avoid disturbing the site and allow the tissue to integrate and heal.

Patients will have post-op appointments one day, one week, one month, three months, and six months following the Pinhole procedure. During the initial post-op visits, will expect to see plaque in the treated areas. This proves that the patient has been compliant with the post-op instructions which include not brushing or flossing their teeth. About six weeks after the procedure, patients can resume brushing their teeth using a soft toothbrush.

Benefits

The pinhole technique is beneficial because dentists can correct gingival recession in a single treatment session for many cases. Patients also experience limited discomfort and swelling as there is not any cutting or suturing. The treatment sessions typically take about one and two hours, depending on how many teeth are impacted.

Other benefits of the procedure include:

• Quick recovery time and limited impact to daily living
• No sutures or incision sites
• Donor tissue is not removed from the patient’s palate
• Results are almost immediate and restore a natural looking smile

Long-term studies were conducted which demonstrated the success of the procedure. The pinholes which are made during the procedure typically heal within just 24 hours. Most patients can manage the discomfort with an over-the-counter pain medication and do not need to take any narcotic pain medication.

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