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Why Pinhole Surgery Is Important | Chicago Dentist

woman receiving dental work

Smoking, grinding, poor hygiene, hormonal changes, and even medications can affect your overall oral health as you may think. Gum recession is not a cosmetic issue, it’s something that can weaken your periodontal arch as your tooth sockets loosen. When you progress in the cycle of gingival recession, the gums begin to pull away from the teeth. More than simply loosening teeth, it can cause them to become misaligned, lost, and hinder your ability to maintain proper oral hygiene.

The benefits of pinhole surgery are that it is non-invasive, meaning the pain is minimal and recovery is quick. Patients do not need to employ anesthesia and will come out of surgery with fewer wound sites than the previous technique.

The Pinhole Technique is the best way to treat gum recession, and If you would like more information about soft tissue grafting, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Receding Gums: What To Know | Chicago Dentist

close up smile red lipstick

As gums recede, they pull away from your teeth and expose the root over time. Not only can this cause pain, it creates pockets between the two and along the gum line. It makes your beautiful smile susceptible to decay gum disease and tooth loss. This is when the problem has gotten out of hand, and you have a gingival recession.

Some things that can lead to gum recession are aggressive brushing, teeth grinding, misalignment, gingivitis, and genetics. Of course, some things are preventable and others are predetermined, but it’s important to control what you can. Speak with your dentist about your oral care habits and health history to assess your risk, and give you tips about how to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

If you would like more information about soft tissue grafting, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Pinhole Surgical Technique: What You Need to Know | Chicago Dentist

Woman face smile with perfect teeth looking you

Pioneered by Dr. Chao, the Pinhole® Surgical Technique is a new way to repair gum recession through a pinhole-sized incision, rather than having to cut through the tissue. This new technique will not only reduce the discomfort of grafting surgery but cuts down recovery time as well.

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions by patients:

How common is gum recession?

While the desire to do something about one’s receding gums was less common than the problem itself (due in part to the expense, discomfort, and recovery time), the issue is fairly common.

How long can I expect the standard gum grafting procedure to take?

The standard procedure requires cutting out a graft of the gum from the palate and grafting it to where it’s needed. To delicately cut and remove the graft tissue and attach it with sutures takes about an hour to an hour and a half for just one or two teeth. It’s the recovery time that would take a while, up to two or three weeks. With Pinhole Surgical Technique, there is no gum grafting anymore. A pinhole is made by a needle, so there’s no scalpel or cutting at all. Then we shift the tissue down with very little trauma to the tissue. This reduces procedural discomfort, operation time, and recovery.

Will I need another procedure in a few years?

The Pinhole Surgical Technique is expected to be permanent.

If you would like more information about Pinhole Surgical Technique, call Dr. Peter O. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.