When your gums begin to recede, this could indicate periodontal disease and even lead to discomfort and the risk of tooth loss. But we can help, and with a conservative alternative to traditional gum grafts. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talk about laser-assisted pinhole gum grafts!

The Need for Gum Grafts

When do you need to talk to our team about gum grafts? This could be necessary when your gums recede, a complication involving the tissues pulling back from the teeth. Recession occurs when you develop advanced periodontal disease, and could expose portions of the roots not protected by outer enamel. You could also see damage to connective tissues between the teeth and gums. The result is a higher risk of tooth decay and infection, as well as a great chance of periodontitis, the stage linked to adult tooth loss. But we can cover these exposed portions with a conservative alternative to traditional gum grafts, once assisted with dental lasers!

The Pinhole Surgical Technique

With the Pinhole Surgical Technique, we don’t actually have to take tissue from other parts of your mouth’s interior to cover these exposed portions. Instead, our team will make a miniscule hole in the gums and then add a special collagen material. Once we complete this step, our team can begin to manipulate the tissues until they cover the exposed portions of the roots. At this stage, we can reshape the gum line for a more attractive smile. The procedure only takes one visit, and you can leave with immediately visible results, enjoying a healthier and more attractive smile.

The Help of Laser Dentistry

Our team can employ a soft tissue dental laser to make the hole in the gums and to also make any necessary adjustments to your connective tissues or gums. Lasers are more precise than scalpels and don’t require the use of sutures afterward, so we can target areas with recession and prevent damage to healthy gums. The area heals faster too, and the overall risk of bleeding, infection, and swelling is much lower too. Lasers are comfortable and rarely require the use of local anesthesia, making this a convenient way to address periodontal concerns. At the same time, the technology helps destroy the harmful bacteria behind inflammation and disease.

If you have any questions about correcting gum recession with the Pinhole Surgical Technique, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy better oral health and a more attractive smile.

Schedule Your Appointment for Gum Grafting

We want to help you enjoy good oral health and full smiles. To learn more about covering exposed tooth roots, call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.