If you have a gingival recession (gum recession), you’re not alone because this common condition affects 50% of adults aged 18–64 and nearly 90% of adults aged 50 and older. Untreated gum recession can cause a hit to your smile aesthetics (long-looking teeth), root hypersensitivity and decay, increased plaque and tartar growth, bleeding, ongoing soft tissue loss, and even tooth loss.
The Pinhole Surgical Technique™ was invented and patented by Dr. John Chao in 2012 and has been used for more than a decade with evidence-based success. If you’re looking for pinhole gum surgery near you in Durham, NC, Raleigh, NC, and Morrisville, NC, our periodontist, Dr. Jason Cataldo, is certified in this minimally invasive and gentler gum recession treatment.
Before introducing the pinhole surgical technique, gum recession surgery required harvesting a donor graft from the roof of the mouth, cutting the gums, and suturing the graft material to areas with gum recession. Due to minimal soft tissue manipulation, pinhole gum surgery results in less bleeding and pain, enhancing healing. Because no donor tissue is required and flap advancement is better when more teeth are treated, multiple areas of recession can be addressed in one session.
If you require receding gums treatment in Durham, NC, Raleigh, NC, and Morrisville, NC, pinhole gum surgery at Periodontics and Dental Implants of North Carolina can resolve this issue and prevent serious gum recession repercussions from impacting oral health. Since cutting or stitching isn’t needed, you’ll experience minimal postoperative pain, swelling, and bleeding, instant cosmetic results, and may be able to resume most normal activities within 24 to 48 hours of the procedure. Although more advanced recession (with soft tissue and bone loss) can’t be treated with pinhole surgery alone, some studies have shown success using a combination of this technique and complex- and soft-tissue grafts to treat major defects.
When you get pinhole gum surgery at Periodontics and Dental Implants of North Carolina, first, your gums are numbed with a local anesthetic. A needle makes a tiny hole in your gums above the receding gum line. Through the pinhole, specially designed and patented instruments loosen and guide gum tissue to cover the exposed roots. After gum tissue is repositioned, collagen strips are added to stabilize the treated area(s).
