Pinhole Surgical Technique
New Bedford, Falmouth, & Hyannis, MA
Pinhole Surgical Technique provided by Dr. Gus Dehni
and Dr. Chris Webb
in New Bedford, Falmouth, & Hyannis, MA at Center for Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
 People with moderate or severe gum disease face the destruction of gum tissue as part of the disease. Receding gums are nothing to joke about because if you lose your gums, you lose part of the underlying structure of your teeth that helps to anchor your teeth and provides blood flow to them. If you have receding gums, you need to know there are gum recession treatments available here at Center for Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry. We can help you with this minimally invasive gum surgery.
What Causes Receding Gums?
The main reason you may need receding gum treatment is gum disease. Gum disease is a type of infection caused by bacteria. Bacteria are always in your mouth because they help you break down food and aid in digestion. However, too much bacteria in your mouth, especially the strains of bacteria that are not good for you, can cause both tooth decay and gum disease.
Gum disease is very treatable in its early stages - it is even curable. You can cure your gum disease by brushing and flossing regularly, as well as coming in to see our dentist every six months. However, if you have moderate or severe gum disease, bacteria are causing your gums to recede. You will notice spaces developing between your teeth and your gums. Over time, if you do not treat your gum infection, you will see your gums growing smaller.
There are other reasons you may have receding gums. One of the other causes is overbrushing, which happens when you brush your teeth furiously or use a hard toothbrush. You may also have receding gums if you clench or grind your teeth at night, a condition called bruxism.
What Is the Pinhole Surgical Technique?
This specialized surgical technique is a gum graft alternative. In the past, the only way to give patients gumline restoration was to perform gum recession surgery. The gum graft surgery takes tissue from the roof of your mouth and grafts the new tissue on top of the receding gumline. This procedure stabilizes your gum tissue and covers exposed tooth roots. However, many patients have discussed that gum graft surgery is invasive, has an extended healing time, and may only temporarily solve the problem, especially if they have gum disease.
Another type of gum rejuvenation surgery is far less invasive. The Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique is named after its creator, a brilliant dentist. The pinhole technique is around 15 years old, and dentists all over the world use it to help their patients with receding gums.
If our dentist is using the pinhole technique, he will first loosen the gum tissue using specialized tools. Then, he will inject collagen into the area where the gum tissue has been loosened. The pinhole technique is minimally invasive, which means you will have no sutures. Most patients do not even experience swelling or pain after the surgery. The pinhole technique has worked for years, although because it is a new procedure, no one is quite sure how long the technique lasts or if it will need to be repeated. Early research indicates that the pinhole technique is as effective as gum grafts at restoring a healthier gumline.
Advantages of the Pinhole Surgical Technique
The pinhole technique has some definite advantages. First, many patients like that the surgery is very noninvasive. If you are someone who has struggled with gum treatments, this technique may be perfect for you. Also, because the surgical technique is far less invasive, it is easier to recover from. Instead of needing a full week or so to recover from a gum graft, the pinhole technique eliminates long recovery times. There is also far less pain, swelling, and bleeding with the pinhole technique than with traditional gum graft surgery. Many patients also like that their gums look instantly improved after the Pinhole Surgical Technique is complete. Finally, patients who worry about getting donated tissue from other people for their gum graft surgeries do not have to worry because they will not need donated tissue for the pinhole technique.
Are There Disadvantages of the Pinhole Surgical Technique?
While there are a lot of advantages to the Pinhole Surgical Technique, there are disadvantages as well. First, not everyone can benefit from the pinhole technique. It works best with people who have moderate gum recession. If you have severe gum disease with receding gums, the pinhole technique may not work for you. Also, if your gum disease gets worse, there is a chance you might have to have the procedure again.
Because the procedure is fairly new, there are very few long-term research studies about the effectiveness of the technique years down the road. Also, you will need to check with your insurance company to make sure they cover the technique because there are some dental insurance companies that will not cover it, meaning you would have to pay all of your costs out of your own pocket. Finally, the procedure is only as effective as the dentist that uses it. Luckily, our dentist has years of experience using the Pinhole Surgical Technique, and that is a big advantage.
Who Is a Good Candidate for the Pinhole Surgical Technique?
You may be wondering whether you are a good candidate for the pinhole technique. Here are a few factors you need to consider. First, our dentist will not perform the technique unless you do not have an active gum infection and all of your cavities have been filled. If you have gum disease that has not been treated or you have cavities, our dentist must address those first.
For some people who have chronic diseases, such as a bleeding disorder or heart disease, you may need to talk with our dentist because the Pinhole Surgical Technique may not work for you. Also, if you use nicotine products, you also need to talk with our dentist because your healing time for any dental procedure is extended. Nicotine causes blood vessels in your mouth to contract, which slows down healing time. People who use nicotine also have dry mouths. People with dry mouth have increased bacterial counts of harmful bacteria, which can cause cavities and periodontal disease.
Not sure if you are a good candidate for this procedure? Why not give Center for Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry a call today at 508-204-3145? We would love to talk to you about the Pinhole Surgical Procedure! |
