At Model Smile Dentistry, Dr. Chow is passionate about using his exemplary dental skills and modern technology to help you achieve your dental health goals.
Pinhole Surgery Vs. Gum Grafts
Pinhole gum rejuvenation is a much less invasive technique than gum grafting. With grafting, the normal procedure is to cut a small flap in the roof of the mouth (the palette), then cut a small amount of tissue underneath the flap to be used for grafting. (In some cases, the tissue is harvested directly from the roof of the mouth with no flap made.) The flap is then sutured closed, and the harvested tissue is sutured to the tissue around the tooth that needs rejuvenation. These two incision sites will then need to heal, normally about 2 to 3 weeks. Pinhole gum rejuvenation, on the other hand, does not require any cutting or suturing.
The gum is numbed, and a tiny hole, made by a needle, is made in the gum where recession is occurring. A special instrument is then inserted into the hole where it is skillfully moved around to loosen the gums and soft tissues. This movement with the instrument effectively pulls the pliable gum tissue down over the exposed tooth roots. In the interest of providing the best pinhole gum rejuvenation Thousand Oaks has available, Dr. Chow uses no incisions and no stitches. Quite often, the pinhole itself is gone by the next day.
