Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique vs. Connective Tissue Grafting

Have you noticed that your gums are receding or pulling away from your teeth? You may benefit from gum recession therapy.

Two of the most common procedures to correct gum recession are:

1. Connective tissue grafting
2. The Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique

Which one is better? Which is right for you? Find out!

What is gum recession?

When your gums are healthy, they fit snugly around the visible part of your teeth. However, gum disease and other dental health problems can cause your gums to pull away (or recede) from their natural line, exposing the root below.

Roots don’t have a protective enamel coating, so exposing them can cause sensitivity, decay, and further damage.

There are a few reasons why you may be dealing with gum recession. There are usually a combination of factors at play, including:

• Gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis)
• Grinding and clenching
• Forceful brushing
• Accident or injury
• The natural aging process

Why treat receding gums?

So your gums don’t look like they used to — what’s the big deal?

Left untreated, receding gums do more than change the look of your smile. Gum recession also leads to tooth sensitivity and pain, decay, and loose teeth. 

Worse of all, if left untreated for too long, the ultimate result of gum recession can be tooth loss.

If you notice your teeth are looking longer and your gums are pulling away from their natural line, it’s important to talk to your periodontist as soon as possible to see what’s going on.

How to treat gum recession

Here’s the bad news — receding gums do not grow back.

However, treatment can reattach and restore gum tissue around the teeth. You’ll be back to tip-top health in no time!

Mild cases of gum recession can often be treated by a professional deep cleaning. For more advanced cases, high-tech surgical or nonsurgical procedures will restore your gums and health.

Connective tissue grafting is a common and traditional surgical procedure. The Chao Pinhole technique, on the other hand, is a surgical procedure that’s minimally invasive, meaning it is not as invasive as connective tissue grafting.

Connective tissue grafting

Connective tissue grafting involves using donor tissue (nonautogenous) or soft tissue from the roof of your mouth (autogenous) to cover exposed root surfaces and rebuild your gum line. We’ll help you understand whether an autogenous or nonautogenous graft is best for you. We always want your feedback about which method you feel most comfortable with.

Here’s what to expect from a connective tissue graft:

• You’ll feel relaxed and comfortable thanks to sedation dentistry options.
• The tissue graft is carefully taken from your mouth and stitches are applied.
• If necessary or requested, we can also use donor tissue.
• The tissue is carefully grafted onto your gums.
• We may apply Emdogain gel to help safely and effectively regenerate your gum tissue. 
• Your mouth should be feeling back to normal in about two weeks!

There are a few key benefits of connective tissue grafting. Of course, the most important benefit is that it helps strengthen and stabilize the gums covering your teeth. Connective tissue grafting is a great way to protect your teeth against additional gum recession and decrease your tooth sensitivity. 

And of course, it will help improve the appearance of your smile!

Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique

The Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique (often simply called Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation) is a minimally-invasive and very natural method for treating gum recession. 

Invented and patented by Dr. John Chao, this technique is revolutionizing the way our periodontists reverse gum recession. It’s a minimally-invasive surgery that uses a very small needle to restore your gums to perfect health.

Here’s what to expect with Chao Pinhole Surgery:

• Using a small needle, we’ll create access to the tissue above your gums.
• A high-tech instrument is used to gently loosen your gum tissue, sliding it over your exposed root structure.
• You’ll see instant results! Most of our patients only take Advil after the procedure and feel fine by the next day. 

There are many benefits of Chao Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation, but our patients especially love this option because it’s faster, more comfortable, and delivers long-lasting results.

Which gum recession treatment is best for you? Talk to your periodontist

Every person is different. It’s important to thoroughly diagnose your underlying problem and determine the best course of action based on your situation, lifestyle, and goals.

Knowing all your options and understanding the benefits of each will help you make the best choice for your health. And it’s entirely possible that the best option for you is a combination of these treatments!

Questions? Schedule an appointment

Whether you require a surgical or non-surgical approach, we offer comprehensive and personalized gum recession treatments in Midtown Atlanta and Roswell to restore your smile. 

Dr. Pumphrey is one of the only board-certified periodontists in the area trained to provide the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique. He learned this method from the inventor of the procedure, Dr. Chao himself.

Call us to learn more and schedule a consultation.