So, for gingival grafting, the traditional surgery for that has, in the past, is very uncomfortable. They actually will take a piece of a tissue out of the roof of your mouth and transplant it over the root where the recession is, and there’s a lot of sutures, there’s a lot of cutting of the gum, and postoperatively a lot of pain. Patients who’ve had that don’t always want to go back. Unfortunately, you can only treat one to two teeth at a time in most cases. For patients who have recession in a lot of areas, they have to go for several surgeries. A new technique, or it’s been around actually for 10 years, but it’s more well-known at this point, is called pinhole surgical technique, and we’re able to do the same result with only one access point. There’s no sutures, there’s no cutting, and you’re lowering the gum down, and you can treat an entire arch or an entire mouth in one visit. There’s really minimal postoperative discomfort, so it’s a really great way to treat it.
Choose From Two Gum Treatments, Including the Pain-Free Pinhole Technique
Gum grafting is a reliable way to replace missing gum tissue, improve your gumline, and protect your tooth roots. We’ll discuss each step of the treatment beforehand so you’ll know what to expect. During your gum graft appointment, your dentist will:
- Use local anesthetic to numb the area for your comfort
- Take a small amount of tissue from inside your mouth and place it in the affected area along your gumline
- Secure the gum graft
Following a brief healing period, your gumline – and your smile – will look healthier and more attractive.
If gum grafting is not right for you, your dentist may recommend another form of gum recession treatment, the revolutionary Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique. If you decide on this method, we will:
- Numb the affected area
- Gently loosen your gumline through a pin-sized hole
- Carefully guide your gums back over your tooth roots
Regardless of which gum recession treatment you choose, our friendly team can help you relax during your procedure with dental sedation.
If you are experiencing gum disease, we can perform a deep cleaning using scaling and root planing to restore your gums to health. However, there are other causes of gum recession, including genetic factors, teeth grinding, brushing your teeth too hard, and tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco.
Call our office today at 832-463-1021 to restore your smile with Houston gum grafts. You can also make an appointment online.