Periodontal Treatments

Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation

Pinhole Treatment For Gum Recession

As a certified Chao Pinhole® Gum Rejuvenation (also called the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique – PST) specialist, Dr. Fava uses specially designed instruments to enable this suture-free, scalpel-free, graft-free, and minimally invasive procedure to treat gum recession.

The Traditional Gum Grafting Method

In the past, conventional gum grafting, an effective but sometimes uncomfortable procedure, meant cutting into the mouth palate in order to graft a section of gum onto the receding tooth area.

The shifted soft tissue would be sutured in place and would slowly join with existing gum tissue as it healed. While this traditional grafting treatment is still effective, comparable results – with better overall patient experience – can be achieved through the Chao Pinhole® technique.

The Faster, Zero-Suture Pinhole Method

With Chao Pinhole® Gum Rejuvenation, esthetic enhancement is nearly instant thanks to a tiny (0.1”) “pinhole” entry point made with a specially designed instrument. The tool frees gingival (gum) tissue and glides the tissue over the receded part of the tooth, covering the exposed area. Tiny collagen strips placed at the site of the recession plump up and helps hold the loosened gum tissue in place. No sutures are required and recovery is fast since the tiny pinhole entry point often heals within only 24 hours.

Why Do Gums Recede?

Gum recession and tooth loss are often caused by periodontal diseases and bacterial gum infections that destroy gum tissue and the supporting bone that holds our teeth in place. Other causes of gum recession can include aggressive brushing, misalignment of bite or crooked teeth, genetic predisposition (30% of the population!), inadequate preventative dental care, tobacco usage, clenching or grinding your teeth, body piercing of the lip or tongue, or hormonal changes.

You may be surprised to know that gums also can recede after certain orthodontic therapies. In many cases, the recession doesn’t begin until years after orthodontics have finished.

The people who are most at risk are those who have thin gum and bone tissues and also have crowded teeth, but having an evaluation prior to orthodontics is a good idea to help prevent gum recession.

This is especially true for adults who are considering braces. In many cases our periodontists will treat the gum tissue before and/or during the orthodontic therapy to have the best long term result.

Key Benefits of the Pinhole® Procedure

Gum recession can often be corrected in as little as one office visit
Tiny pinholes made in the gum usually heal within 24 hours
The procedure can prevent tooth loss
There’s no need for scalpels, sutures, or invasive dental tools
The results are long-lasting and natural-looking
Patients recover much faster than with traditional grafting
Patients experience little to no discomfort after treatment
There’s no need for “donor” tissue to be taken from the patient’s palate

Pinhole Technique for Receding Gums Results

Only a Pinhole®-certified dentist can offer this technique. Philip L. Fava, DMD, MDSc, is a certified specialist in the CHAO Pinhole® Technique for treating gum recession.

To schedule your no-obligation Pinhole consultation with Dr. Fava, contact us today.

Am I a Candidate for Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation?

Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation treats gum recession, where the gums have pulled back and left more of the tooth showing. You may be a good fit if:

Your teeth look longer than they used to, or part of a root is showing.
Your gums receded after braces, even years after treatment ended.
You'd rather avoid a graft taken from the roof of your mouth.
You're an adult considering braces and have thin gums with crowded teeth.

Dr. Fava, certified in the Chao Pinhole® Technique, confirms at your evaluation whether Pinhole or a graft suits your recession.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Pinhole procedure hurt?

Most patients feel little discomfort, during or after. Dr. Fava works through an opening about a tenth of an inch wide instead of cutting tissue from the roof of your mouth, so there is no donor site to heal and no stitches to remove. Our three-stage numbing process dries the area and applies a topical gel before any injection, and the pinhole itself often heals within 24 hours.

How long do Pinhole results last?

The results are long-lasting, as long as whatever caused the recession is under control. Gums pull back for many reasons, including gum disease, brushing too hard, grinding and a misaligned bite, so Dr. Fava looks for the cause during your evaluation and treats it alongside the recession. If gum disease is part of the picture, regular gum health maintenance visits protect the repaired gumline.

Am I a good candidate for Pinhole?

The way to know is an evaluation with Dr. Fava, who looks at how much of each root is exposed and what caused your gums to pull back. Recession caused by gum disease or by brushing too hard can often be treated, as long as the cause is addressed too. When Pinhole is not the best fit, a soft tissue graft, covered on our gum recontouring page, can cover the root instead.

Who performs Pinhole at your practice?

Dr. Philip Fava, our practice owner and a board-certified periodontist, performs the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique. Only Pinhole-certified dentists may offer it, and Dr. Fava holds that certification. He also looks for the reason your gums receded, so the repair is part of a plan that keeps the gumline stable. Your consultation with him is the first step.

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