Have you ever gazed into a mirror to discover you had some teeth that appeared to be longer than others? If so, most likely you have receding gums. This is a condition in which gum tissue has been pulled away from a person's teeth. As a result, roots are exposed, which makes teeth more susceptible to structural damage and decay.
If you suffer from a receding gum-line, you're not alone as about half of all Americans have this problem, according to the American Dental Association. Maybe you have a receding gum-line but hesitate to see a dentist because you've heard that gum grafting is invasive and can be painful. If so, take heart.
Thanks to the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST), you can be treated for gum-line recession without needing grafting or sutures, making it minimally invasive. Here's what you need to know about this dental treatment, along with a few considerations and warnings.
Simply put, PST is a relatively simple procedure for reversing receding gums. After a dentist administers a local anesthetic to numb the affected area, he or she he uses special tools for gently repositioning a patient's gums, which helps to protect teeth.
Rather than having to cut or stitch gum tissue, as in traditional gum grafting, a dentist creates pinholes, the size of a needlepoint, into the gums so that tissue can slide either up or down for covering an exposed area.
Compared to traditional gum grafting or connective tissue grafting (also called autogenous bone grafting), the pinhole technique offers several advantages. But probably the main benefit is that it can treat several teeth at one time or as many teeth as desired.
Because no sutures are involved, there's no discomfort from cutting or bleeding, making for a shorter recovery time and less postoperative pain. Another perk is that it doesn't take as long to do as other procedures.
Your dentist doesn't have to take any donor tissue from your palate. Consider how when a patient's own tissue is used, a dentist is limited in how many areas of the mouth can be treated in one treatment. Since this procedure can treat a patient's entire mouth, it can be done in only one appointment. Because there's a lower risk of postoperative trismus, there aren't as many insurance restrictions.
Additionally, it produces the best cosmetic results as your teeth look natural. As a result, you feel more confident about your appearance, so you start smiling again. What's more, it's easier to eat, talk and laugh. In most cases, results are obvious immediately.
Questions? For more information, please set up an appointment with Dr. William Linger. Our state-of-the-art dental practice provides top notch dental care for not only the greater Charlotte area, but we also welcome patients worldwide. Please contact us and learn more about our wide range of dental services.