Are There Alternatives to Gum Grafting?
A receding gum line can have cosmetic as well as oral health implications. Gum recession, which often results from untreated periodontitis, can lead to tooth decay, heightened sensitivity, and even tooth loss. Traditionally, this health condition was treated using gum graft surgery.
However, our esteemed and board-certified periodontist, Dr. J. Eric Herrington, offers a new minimally invasive treatment option to reverse gingival recession without the need for grafting or sutures. If you live in Meridian, Laurel, or Hattiesburg, MS, and have advanced gingival recession, you may be an ideal candidate for the pinhole surgical technique. The advanced treatment allows patients to shorten their recovery time while enjoying the benefits of a restored gum line.
Benefits of Pinhole Surgical Technique
The pinhole surgical technique delivers the same restorative and cosmetic benefits as gum graft surgery but without the need for incisions and sutures. Patients who undergo this advanced form of oral surgery at our Meridian dental practice can benefit from:
- Quick and effective treatment for gingival recession
- Virtually pain-free surgery
- Shorter recovery time
- Lower risk of complications following surgery
- Reduced sensitivity
- Lower risk of tooth loss
- Restored oral health
- More even and attractive gum line
By working with a periodontist like Dr. Herrington, you can benefit from his many years of experience performing oral surgery. The best way for any patient to lower their risk for complications following surgery is to work with a trusted doctor. Dr. Herrington graduated Magna Cum Laude from Millsaps College and was honored with the AAP award for Outstanding Achievement in Periodontics.
Advanced pinhole surgical technique allows Dr. Herrington to offer all of the benefits of gum graft surgery without the need for sutures and lengthy recovery times.
Am I a Candidate for Pinhole Surgical Technique?
Most patients who have experienced gingival recession and are in otherwise good oral health are candidates for the pinhole surgical technique. If you are seeking a restored gum line but wish to avoid often painful and lengthy soft tissue grafting, you may be a great candidate for pinhole surgical technique. However, this surgical technique may not be recommended for certain advanced cases of gingival recession or periodontitis. In these cases, our office also offers soft tissue grafting to address gum tissue recession.
During your consultation at our Meridian dental practice, Dr. Herrington will exam your teeth and gums before explaining your treatment options.
A Look at the Procedure
The pinhole surgical technique is performed at our Meridian dental practice under the expert hands of Dr. Herrington. Before your procedure begins, Dr. Herrington will administer local anesthesia to numb the treatment area. Our office also offers oral conscious and IV sedation to help patients remain relaxed throughout their treatment. Once you are relaxed and comfortable, the doctor will make a small hole in your gums and above the area of gum tissue recession. The nearby gum tissue will then be elevated and guided toward the tooth to restore the gum line. Special collagen strips will then be used to stabilize the repositioned gum tissue.
Most patients are able to resume normal activities after a full day of rest. Full recovery can take one to two weeks. Dr. Herrington will provide recovery guidelines that should be followed.