If you have periodontal disease, then this could lead to sore and bleeding gums. Over time, this can also cause the gums to recede, which makes teeth appear longer! But we can help with a conservative alternative to traditional gum grafts. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about correcting recession with pinhole gum grafts!
Disease and Gum Recession
When you have periodontal disease and the issue is not treated and managed in the early stages, this could cause the issue to increase in severity, until the tissues begin to recede from the teeth. The recession exposes portions of the tooth root not protected by enamel, which then increase the risk of tooth decay and infection. The recession also leads to the periodontitis stage, in which the attachment tissues between the teeth and gums are severed, leading to loose and missing teeth. Our team can manage the disease with options like laser dentistry, but what about the gums? With a pinhole gum graft, we can offer a unique and conservative way to correct receding tissues!
Pinhole Surgical Technique
With a traditional gum graft, our team would take tissues from other parts of your mouth’s interior and use them to cover the receded portions of the smile. But with the pinhole surgical technique, we instead make a minuscule hole in the periodontal tissues and add a special collagen material to the interior. We then manipulate and mold the tissues until they cover the exposed areas. We not only protect the tooth and destroy harmful bacteria in the process, but we can reshape the gum line to ensure better smile esthetics too! The procedure only takes one visit to complete.
Help With Perio Lasers
If we need to make any adjustments to the underlying attachment tissues or bone, or to remove diseased parts of the periodontal tissues, we can do so with a dental laser, one calibrated to handle soft tissue concerns. Our team can make these adjustments quickly and the lasers destroy bacteria in the process. We also don’t need scalpels or sutures, so the area heals fast and the risk of infection, bleeding, and swelling is much lower. We can then manage the disease with antimicrobial medications, better homecare habits, and routine cleanings every three to four months. We may also recommend Ozone Therapy!
If you have any questions about our pinhole gum grafts, then reach out to our office today to learn more and get started!
Schedule Your Appointment for Pinhole Gum Grafts
Our team is ready to help treat your recession and manage your periodontal disease, so you can smile with confidence again. To learn more about the pinhole surgical technique, call Dr. Ann Kania in Encinitas, CA, today at 760-642-0711.