Gum Grafting

What are the differences between the Pinhole Surgical Technique and Traditional Gum Grafting?

Some differences between gum grafting and the pinhole surgical technique include:

The Surgical procedure

Gum grafting is an incision made on the roof of your mouth to remove gum tissue. In some cases an alternative source or tissue bank is required. Another incision is then made and the tissue is connected to cover the exposed roots using stitches to keep the site closed.

With the Pinhole Surgical Technique, a small, pin-sized hole is made as an entry point in order to loosen the gums and stretch it over the exposed root. Collagen is then placed to keep the gums in place. No cutting or stitches are required with this minimally invasive technique. The Pinhole Surgical Technique gives us a less invasive option to address and treat recession.

Number of teeth treated

With traditional gum grafting only a few teeth can be treated at a time.

With the new Pinhole Surgical Technique we can work on numerous teeth including the full mouth in most cases. Because we are using the existing gum to move into position, we are able to treat a much larger area without the restrictions that are encountered with gum grafting including cutting, removing and grafting existing gum tissue.

Surgery Time

Gum grafting can take 90 minutes or more to complete. The new Pinhole Surgical Technique takes half the amount of time compared to connective tissue grafting.

Recovery Time

Traditional Gum grafting requires cutting and stitches and can take 14 – 21 days to heal with many restrictions, pain and swelling.

The new Pinhole Surgical Technique has virtually no recovery time. No Cutting, No Stitches, No Downtime! You can easily repair your gums and repair your smile during your lunch break and go back to work the same day. The pin-sized hole heals quickly and is almost undetectable in as little as 24 hours.