Receding gums is a common dental condition where the gums move down and expose the tooth root. This could cause tooth sensitivity and even tooth loss. Gum recession may occur due to genetics, poor dental hygiene, gum disease, or aggressive brushing. The usual treatment for receding gums is soft-tissue grafting. This is a minor surgical procedure that involves moving and suturing gum tissues and the need for extended healing.
An alternative, less invasive option is pinhole gum surgery, also known as a lunchtime gum lift. The procedure uses a combination of traditional methods. It aims to treat gum recession without invasive steps and instruments like scalpels or sutures. Instead, it only creates a tiny hole to release the gum tissues and reposition them on the affected site. This method is not suitable for everyone. Patients will need to have thick gum tissue and not be suffering from advanced bone loss to qualify. Results could be unpredictable when there is a degradation of the bone. Patients should also be free of inflammation or any active diseases before the procedure.
One advantage of pinhole gum surgery is that it can be used to treat many teeth in one sitting.
The surgery takes 1-2 hours and is performed under local anesthesia. The surgeon uses a special needle to make a pinhole-sized incision in the affected gum. A device then loosens and stretches out the tissues. Once detached, the tissues are pulled over and repositioned onto the affected site of the exposed root. The dentist inserts a collagen strip beneath the new graft. This helps to keep the graft in place and improve the healing process. The procedure is less invasive than traditional gum grafting since it does not require sutures. Due to this, recovery is much faster with less discomfort.
