The Benefits of Pinhole Gum Surgery
Receding gums are a problem for many Canadians. While the damage they can cause can sound scary, some find the prospect of gum grafting surgery just as terrifying. Fortunately, today there is an alternative called the Chao Pinhole gum surgery technique.
At the moment, this ground breaking procedure is still relatively new and not all dentists are trained to perform it. Dr. Ed Philips is one dentist in Toronto who has been trained in this technique and who can offer it to his patients.
Why are receding gums a problem?
Over time shrinkage of the gums causes them to recede away from the teeth. As more and more of the tooth is exposed (and in extreme cases where the root is exposed), disease causing bacteria can build up and do serious harm to the tooth, bone and tissue.
Even diligent dental care such as brushing and flossing is often not enough to prevent shrinkage, making medical intervention necessary.
Traditional treatments for receding gums
When gum recession is still mild the typical treatment is deep cleaning. This can be an uncomfortable, but often effective treatment for some with sensitive gums, or who have mild gum disease. The plaque and tartar that has built up on the surface of the tooth or root is removed in order to reduce the risk of bacteria destroying the tooth.
More advanced cases require surgery. Past surgeries involved pulling pockets of recessed gum away to get to the plague or tartar building up beneath the gum. This can be a painful procedure, and healing after the surgery takes time. A filling was often placed over the exposed tooth.
When the gum recession was advanced then gum grafting was often considered as a solution. A graft would be taken – usually from the roof of the patient’s mouth – and it would be grafted into the gum tissue. This type of surgery can cause quite a lot of discomfort, as it’s necessary to cut the gum in two different places, and for some people the effect is not permanent, or the graft fails. Recuperation takes two to three weeks.
The Pinhole Surgical Technique
This procedure doesn’t require a graft, or painful manipulation of the gum. A pinhole is made with a needle to shift the tissue down over the tooth. No scalpel or cutting is involved. In this technique, there’s also less trauma to the tissue itself. As this is accomplished with no deep open wounds the recovery time is much shorter. This is a less invasive procedure that has a high success rate.
After care with the Pinhole Surgical Technique
Since there’s no grafting, recovery time is very fast. It is necessary to see the dentist again to ensure that healing of the pin holes occurs normally. Other than following aftercare instructions, and eating soft foods, which will not irritate the gums little aftercare is necessary.
Due to factors such as aging, genetics and environment it is likely that receding gums will continue to be a problem for many Canadians. Fortunately, the method of treating this problem has evolved significantly in recent years. With the Chao Pinhole gum surgery technique patients now an effective – but less invasive option. If you’d like to consider this option for yourself, contact the office of Dr. Philips today.