If you have gum recession, then you may need periodontal treatment. Too much gum loss looks unattractive, it increases sensitivity and it can lead to tooth damage. While you can't make lost gum grow again, your periodontist can help restore it. Typically, this involves taking a graft of skin from the roof of your mouth and stitching it to the reduced area of gum. The graft then grows into the tissue you have left.
However, in some cases, your periodontist may suggest a different technique—pinhole surgery. How does this treatment work and what are the benefits?
What Is Pinhole Gum Surgery?
Like a graft, pinhole surgery restores gum length over teeth. However, this technique is different; it doesn't involve a graft.
Here, your periodontist makes tiny holes in your gum. They then use special tools in the holes to gently loosen the area. They then pull the tissue out and down to get it sitting at a more effective length over the tooth. This basically elongates the gum and puts it in a more natural position.
What Are the Advantages of Pinhole Gum Surgery?
Like a gum graft, a periodontics pinhole procedure restores gum that has receded too far. This makes your teeth look better. It also covers over areas that might otherwise be sensitive or at an increased risk of decay.
The primary advantage of a pinhole procedure is that it doesn't require a tissue graft. It only uses existing gum from the places where you have the problem. So, you won't have to have any tissue taken from the roof of your mouth. While this is a simple procedure, you will have to take care of the area until the donor area heals. It may be sore for a while.
You also don't have to have any stitches or to wait until the graft takes for your mouth to settle down. You aren't adding tissue to the recessing area, so the procedure looks good immediately and will heal on its own. The fact that you are using existing gum also sometimes has cosmetic benefits. While a graft usually blends in nicely over time, adding tissue to your gum may not always look as natural as you'd like. If you're using the gum that already sits over a tooth, then your final results may look more streamlined.
To find out more about how pinhole gum surgery works and what kind of results you can expect, talk to your periodontist.
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