Periodontal disease can eventually cause your gums to recede, which impacts the health, stability, and appearance of your smile. To correct this and improve your smile, we could offer a unique gum graft procedure. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about the Pinhole Surgical Technique.

The Factors Behind Gum Recession

How does periodontal disease cause gum recession? When the issue begins to reach a more advanced stage, the tissues will pull back from the teeth. This makes teeth appear longer and exposes portions of the roots not protected by enamel, which are vulnerable to tooth decay and infection. The risk of periodontitis, the stage linked to adult tooth loss, is higher as well. We want to see you at the first signs of trouble, such as redness in the gums, soreness, or bleeding. But you should also contact us when you notice any recession.

The Pinhole Surgical Technique

With a traditional gum graft, tissue could be taken from the roof of the mouth or other places in the mouth’s interior. This would be grafted onto the receded portions of the smile. While effective, we are happy to offer a more conservative alternative for our patients. With the Pinhole Surgical Technique, our team will actually make a very tiny pinhole in the gums and add a special collagen material. We then manipulate the tissues so they cover the exposed roots. We take time to ensure the gum line is symmetrical too, so your smile is both healthier and more attractive. The procedure takes one visit to complete.

Assistance with Laser Dentistry

If we need to make any adjustments to the gums or underlying tissues, or if we need to remove diseased portions of them, we will use dental lasers. These allow us to make changes with precision and comfort, rarely requiring anesthesia and offering results immediately. Since there are no scalpels and sutures, the treated areas heal fast. In fact, you may return to your normal routine in as little as 24 to 48 hours.

If you have any questions about how our team will take on gum recession with the Pinhole Surgical Technique, or about assisting with advanced dental lasers, then contact our team today. We want to help you enjoy good periodontal health and a full smile, so reach out soon!

Schedule Your Visit to Treat Your Receding Gums

We want to offer treatment to provide results that help your smile look good and stay healthy too, which is why we embrace unique treatments and advanced technology. To learn more about our dental laser treatments or to schedule a consultation with our team, then call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.