When your gums begin to recede due to periodontal disease, this could lead to changes to your appearance and even a higher risk of tooth loss. But our team can help with gum grafts, using lasers and a unique treatment option that is less intensive than traditional grafting. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about our pinhole gum grafts.
When Gums Recede
Why do our gums recede? In some cases, this could be due to factors like a toothbrush with hard bristles and cleaning your teeth too rough. But persistent and worsening recession could be the result of gum disease. When we develop periodontal disease and don’t seek treatment to manage it, the disease grows in severity and reaches a more advanced stage. As the tissues pull away from the teeth, your teeth appear longer. You are also at a greater risk of damage to attachment tissues, which can cause adult tooth loss. In addition to managing the disease, we want to correct the recession with a grafting procedure, so you have an attractive and stronger smile.
The Pinhole Treatment
Traditionally, the procedure would involve our team taking tissues from other parts of the interior of your mouth and using them to cover the exposed portions. But we can conduct a more conservative option with the Pinhole Surgical Technique. With this option, we will make a miniscule hole in the gums and then add a special collagen material. Our team will then manipulate these tissues so they cover the exposed portions of the roots and help us recreate an attractive gum line. The procedure is less involved and more comfortable, with repairs possible in one visit. The area heals quicker too, and you can return to your normal routine.
Care With Dental Lasers
We don’t need to use scalpels or sutures in this procedure. If we need to alter your gum tissues or underlying bone or attachment structures, we can use dental lasers to do so. The lasers target specific areas of your smile with precision, so we can avoid damaging healthy structures and you can see results in a shorter time frame. Lasers also reduce the risk of swelling and bleeding, and help ensure you can return to your normal routine in a shorter time frame often in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
If you have any questions about the Pinhole Surgical Technique or about laser dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk To Our Team About Improving Periodontal Health
Our team wants to help you enjoy better oral health and stronger gums. To learn more about how we treat receding tissues, then schedule an appointment with our team, call Dr. Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at (760) 642-0711.