Pinhole Gum Surgery: What to Expect

If you’ve been diagnosed with receding gums and you’re ready to treat the problem, pinhole gum surgery is a revolutionary new option that gets great results with minimal downtime and fuss.

Our expert team of providers at Smile Design Manhattan in the Midtown West neighborhood of New York City has trained specifically to be able to offer this treatment alternative for your benefit. Here’s how it works and what you can expect.

What is gum recession?

Gum recession occurs when the soft gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls away, exposing the base and roots of the teeth. This causes gaps or pockets to form between the teeth and the gum line, giving bacteria an ideal place to collect and build up. 

Bacteria buildup can lead to infections, tooth decay and loss, and even degeneration of your jawbone in addition to changing the appearance of your smile.

Gum recession has a variety of possible causes, including poor oral hygiene, aggressive tooth brushing, gum disease, clenching and grinding your teeth, genetics, and misaligned teeth.

Treating gum recession

Traditionally, the only way to restore the health and appearance of your gums has been with soft tissue grafts that require incisions, sutures, and a lengthy (and painful) recovery period. Thanks to revolutionary pinhole gum surgery, treatment is much less invasive and much more effective.

First, your dentist uses a tiny needle to poke small pinholes in the gum tissue around the area where the recession has occurred. 

Next, they insert a specially designed dental instrument in the pinhole to loosen gum tissue and gently guide the tissue into a proper, healthy position covering the roots and base of the tooth.

Your dentist then inserts collagen or platelet-rich fibrin through the pinholes to help hold the repositioned gum tissue in place and encourage new tissue growth. The pinholes close up overnight.

You won’t need any incisions or sutures, you can resume your normal activities the same day, the risks are minimal, and the procedure is much faster than the traditional tissue grafts. You may even notice a better-looking gum line the next day.

To make sure your recovery goes well and you avoid any complications, you should keep the site clean and avoid anything abrasive that could irritate your gums.

If you’re ready to explore the possibility of pinhole gum surgery, call the Smile Design Manhattan office to set up an initial consultation or book your visit online. We can build a custom plan to give you the most beautiful smile possible!