I’ve had receding gums because of a variety of reasons, including gum disease. I asked my dentist if there was a way to fix it. He said yes, but when he described the procedure I kind of got the heebie-jeebies. Is there a way to repair my gums without surgery?
Mandy
Dear Mandy,
While most dentists can repair gums, most of them are still doing it using the grafting method your dentist likely described to you, which includes surgically removing tissue from the roof of your mouth. I don’t blame you getting the heebie-jeebies thinking about that.
Fortunately, there’s now a newer method which allows you to have surgery-free, suture-free repairs done to your gums, called the Pinhole Surgical Technique. The procedure has only been around for about a decade, so there aren’t any long-term studies on them. However, the short-term studies have been fantastic and patients love the convenience.
Because it hasn’t been around for long, not many dentists are certified in the procedure. It requires additional training on how to do the new method. It also requires specific specialized tools as well. It’s a big investment for dentists. You may have to do an internet search to find a qualified dentist near you who can perform it well.
Just make sure you have your gum disease completely under control before moving forward though. Healing your gums is priority one.
Surgery-Free Gum Repair with the Pinhole Technique
Your dentist will make a tiny entry point about the size of a pinhole (hence the name) in your gums. Then, using tools designed specifically for this, he will loosen and shift the gum tissue into place and add some collagen strips both to aid in retention of the placement as well as encourage your body to produce more.
It’s an outpatient procedure usually completed between one and two hours. The healing time is simple. There is very little swelling and the entry point is healed within 24 hours. Just be sure you find a certified provider.
This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.