No Cutting. No Sutures. No Downtime.
Have you ever heard the saying, “The future is now?” Well, when you think about the advances in dental techniques and technology, it might be more accurate to say, “The futuristic is now!” I especially feel that way about one of the newest surgeries for gum rejuvenation, the Chao Chao Pinhole Gum technique.
I just completed the special training required to perform this remarkable technique ( in fact, I am one of only a few dentists in the country certified to perform it) and patients are already getting as excited about it as I am. Here’s why: Until recently, the only way to treat receding gums was through gum grafting surgery – a time consuming, invasive, procedure that required removal of tissue from the roof of your mouth (or the use of donor tissue) to graft over areas or recession. These grafts then require conspicuous stitches at the gumline, stitches that often showed when patients smiled. This mean they either had to feel like Frankenstein’s monster until they healed, or they had to take time off work. At the very least, they had to refrain from smiling. Eating could be painful and difficult as well. But now, the Chao Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation technique allows me to use your existing gum tissue with no cutting or stitching whatsoever!
Instead, a tiny, barely visible, pinhole is made under the lip in the upper portion of your gums. Into this hole, I will insert a very delicate tool used to loosen the tissue from the bone. Once the tissue has been gently loosened, it can be draped over the areas of recession. Once the recession is draped, I lay collagen strips over the new tissue for support. That’s it! The results are immediate and, though there might be a little bit of redness, no one could ever guess that you have just had gum surgery. You will leave our office looking great, and the pinhole will heal completely in 24 hours.
If you have gum recession, why not ask us about this technique at your next visit, or read more about it here: Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique®