Pinhole gum surgery
If you have receding gums, pinhole gum surgery from Dr. Jared Cox at Today’s Family Dentistry may be just what you need. This specialized treatment is ideal for restoring your gums and teeth, and is much less invasive than traditional gum grafting surgery. Read on to learn more, or contact us now for an appointment.
When Is Pinhole Gum Surgery Necessary?
Pinhole gum surgery is typically necessary when your gums have receded. Gum recession is caused by a lot of different things, but periodontal (gum) disease is the most common issue.
Gum disease can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth, exposing the roots of your teeth and negatively affecting your smile. Other contributing factors for gum recession can include tobacco use, hormonal changes, and improper dental hygiene, to name just a few.
If your gums have receded significantly, pinhole gum surgery may be required to restore your smile and your bite. Without treatment, your gums and teeth will continue to deteriorate.
Is Pinhole Gum Surgery A Cosmetic Treatment?
The answer is yes and no. Yes, pinhole gum surgery will help restore your smile and your gums, and improve your appearance. However, it is not purely a cosmetic treatment. It’s intended to address gum recession, which is a serious oral health issue.
Gum recession can increase your risk of cavities and infected teeth, and also increases the likelihood of loose teeth and tooth loss. So, while pinhole gum surgery does help improve your appearance, it’s not intended to be a purely cosmetic treatment.
The Pinhole Gum Surgery Process
Pinhole gum surgery can be done in under an hour with only local anesthetic, but we do offer sedation for this procedure. Dr. Cox will clean and numb your mouth, then create a small “pinhole” in the gum tissue, and lift the gum tissue to place a special type of resorbable collagen beneath your gums.
These strips of collagen help stabilize your gums and teeth. Then, over time, the gum tissue heals and regrows to support your teeth, reversing gum recession. This restores your oral health, as well as the natural appearance of your gums and your teeth.
Compared to traditional gum grafting, which requires gum tissue to be harvested from the roof of your mouth, this process causes less discomfort, has a faster recovery time, and takes less time in the dentist’s chair. This makes it a better choice for most patients, although not every patient is a good candidate for the pinhole gum surgery procedure.
The Pinhole Gum Surgery Healing & Aftercare Process
You can recover from pinhole gum surgery at Today’s Family Dentistry in just a few days, compared to 3-4 weeks for traditional gum grafting. You may feel some discomfort and sensitivity for a little while, but most patients are able to resume normal eating on the same day they receive pinhole gum surgery.
However, you need to make sure to follow all of the instructions that Dr. Cox provides you with after your treatment to ensure you care for your gums properly after your treatment, and to prevent your gums from receding in the future.