Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique in College Park

Why Do Gums Recede?

Gums can recede with age and make teeth appear longer. One other cause of gum recession, periodontal disease,is responsible for about 70 percent of gum recession that needs treatment. If you are feeling like your gums are receding, we have a solution for you, so call our dental office today.

Why Do Receding Gums Need Treatment?

Gums protect the tooth root and act as the support structure holding the root in place. Eventually, teeth will loosen and fall out without the protection and stability provided by gums. The teeth are also more vulnerable to bacteria when the gums start receding. Treating receding gums can prevent the need for costly implants in the future.

What Is the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique for Gum Recession?

Dr. John Chao invented an alternative to gum grafting to treat gum recession that is far easier on the patient. He has trained clinicians, including ours, in the procedure, so they can offer it to their patients, especially those balked at traditional gum grafting surgery in the past. Dentists must be Pinhole® Academy certified to offer the procedure.

Why Is the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST) Considered Easier on Patients Compared to Traditional Gum Grafting?

Traditional gum grafting involves taking tissue from the patient's palate and suturing it to the gum. The PST is suture-free; patients can go home and return to their normal activities in 24 to 48 hours. The results are the same; however, the PST is easier on patients and faster.

How Do Clinicians Perform Dr. Chao's Surgical Technique?

They begin by creating a small entry point in the patient's gum. The instruments Dr. Chao designed allow him or her to loosen and slide down a section of gum while working through the pinhole. Tiny collagen strips are pushed through the pinhole to hold the gum down while the gum is generating its own collagen. The PST takes about an hour or two to complete.

What Benefit Does the PST Have Over a Conventional Gum Graft?

Patients feel more comfortable with having their clinician use the PST to repair their receding gums because the procedure does not require to use of a scalpel, sutures or the need to extract tissue from another location to use. The results look natural because they are; the patient's own gum tissue is simply repositioned.