What are receding gums?
Receding gums are when your gums pull or wear away and can potentially expose the roots of your teeth. This can increase your potential for pain, infection, and tooth loss.
The leading cause of receding gums is gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums. If left untreated, this can advance to periodontal disease, which can cause a decrease in bone mass and tooth loss
Other causes of receding gums include:
- Tobacco use, smoking or tobacco chew
- Family history of gum disease
- Hormonal changes, such as menopause or pregnancy
- Aggressive teeth brushing
- Poor oral hygiene
- Oral piercings, including tongue or lip piercings
When you have receding gums, treatment like the PinHole Surgical Technique is important in order to avoid long-term complications and progression of the condition.
What treatments are available for treating receding gums?
Treatment usually begins with conservative treatments, such as thorough oral care and regular cleanings. Other noninvasive treatments include:
- Periodontal cleanings: to treat periodontal disease
- Oral devices: such as a gingival mask, to cover areas of recession
- Antibiotics: to treat infection and inflammation
- Dental composite: to cover and protect tooth roots
If these treatments are ineffective, your dentist may suggest surgical options such as gum grafting or the use of the PinHole Surgical Technique (PST) to treat your gum recession.
What is the PinHole Surgical Technique?
The PinHole Surgical Technique (PST), also known as the Lunchtime Gum Lift® or Pinhole® Gum Rejuvenation, was invented and patented by John Chao, DDS. This revolutionary procedure doesn’t require incisions or sutures and allows for immediate cosmetic improvement with little to no recovery time.
This procedure uses specially designed instruments to place a small hole in the gum tissue, loosening and repositioning it and covering the roots of the tooth. Because this procedure is minimally invasive, you can see results immediately and can expect minimal swelling, pain, or bleeding.
What are the benefits of the PinHole Surgical Technique?
While other surgical options are available to treat serious gum recession, such as connection tissue or gum grafting, PST offers some benefits over these conventional surgical approaches.
These benefits include:
- Multiple teeth can be treated at once
- Fewer visits required
- Less pain and recovery time
- Reduced healing time
- No sutures or incisions
- Instant results
Overall, this technique offers less risk for postoperative complications — such as infection and rejection — and is an ideal method for treating severe gum recession.
For a consultation about whether the PinHole Surgical Technique might be right for you, call or book an appointment online with Wall St Dental Spa.
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