This is a sponsored guest post.
Pinhole Gum Surgery is also known as Pinhole Surgery Technique (PST) and requires a periodontist or periodontal plastic surgeon to insert a pin to make a hole, thus loosening the gum tissue in order to cover receding gum lines in patients with periodontal disease. The technique however is usually only reserved for those that have enough hard and thick gum tissue left to support the procedure. Patients with more advanced periodontal disease are generally candidates for the more advanced and intensive gum grafting procedures. Advanced bone loss also rules out the procedure. Periodontal disease can be mild or advanced, and slightly receding gums are the first sign and should be addressed immediately.
It’s a much simpler procedure than gum grafting and a whole mouth can be done in one sitting. It involves less swelling than gum grafting, and pinhole gum surgery is a lot less painful. Preservation of existing tissue is always a priority for periodontists and periodontal plastic surgeons, and pinhole gum grafting allows for the most preservation of existing gum tissue. It’s followed closely by periodontists and periodontal plastic surgeons and is known as a “pink aesthetic. “ Because it is so minimally invasive and shows a 97.6% success rate after a six month period following pinhole gum surgery, periodontists and periodontal plastic surgeons are excited about this technique and recommend it to scores of patients each year. To determine these results and pinpoint outcomes, patients undergoing any type of root coverage procedure either through pinhole gum surgery or gum grafting techniques are provided a survey in which they rate the success and their satisfaction with the periodontist, periodontal surgeon, and the procedure itself.
There are certain risks associated with pinhole gum surgery as it IS a form of surgery. These are minor however and can include swelling and inflammation. There is some bleeding, however minor, and of course the outcome does depend on following the instructions of the periodontist or periodontal plastic surgeon explicitly so as not to disturb the gum tissue that was placed over the root area. These restrictions may include a reminder not to brush or floss for a period of time and to avoid certain types of foods such as gooey, sticky, and hard foods. Pinhole gum surgery is also somewhat new so the studies and surveys may not reflect longer term results.
Pinhole gum surgery is advised for young and older individuals alike, with many reasons for this. Older individuals can experience gum recession simply from the aging process, while many different reasons might exist for a younger individual. Having braces or even Invisalign procedures to straighten teeth can sometimes cause the gums to recede in a younger person. Gum disease causes the gums to pull back from the teeth leaving the roots prone to cavities and sensitivity. There are many signs of gum disease such as bad breath, teeth seeming longer, and sometimes bleeding gums after brushing. Smoking, poor oral hygiene, injuries, or even genetics can play a factor in periodontal diseases. Some individuals create periodontal problems themselves by brushing their teeth too vigorously, thereby causing gums to recede and pull away. A problem that presents itself should be evaluated immediately by a dentist to see if pinhole gum surgery could alleviate the situation.
Although age can play a factor in gum disease, there are some other factors also as well, such as diabetes, arthritis and other diseases which can make gum disease appear in the early twenties or early thirties during a person’s life. Regular dental checkups and cleanings are important, as are diet and avoiding sugary foods and too much alcohol. Brushing and flossing should be a daily occurrence. Even young children can develop gum disease and need pinhole gum surgery if diseases such as diabetes are not caught quickly and treated appropriately. In adults, the onset of the disease, according to new studies, can happen early if rheumatoid arthritis is present and uncontrolled. This is a relatively new finding, and more research is being done into the topic. However, early studies do suggest a strong link, and if gum disease presents itself early in life in an adult, rheumatoid arthritis should be suggested by a dentist, and a trip to a family physician should be made to rule this out. Catching any disease early that is causing gum disease does always lead to a better outcome when using pinhole gum surgery.
Overall, pinhole gum surgery is a good approach to receding gums and periodontal disease if caught early enough. It’s overall less stressful than other types of gum disease surgeries and can prevent tooth loss later in life. An exposed tooth root is never a good situation and having pinhole gum surgery done early enough can save teeth in the long run.
