SURGICAL
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Extractions
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Implants
Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation​
Tongue/Lip Tie
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Sinus Lift
Cavitations
PINHOLE GUM REJUVENATION
What is Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation
What is pinhole surgery? How does it work and what are the old methods this surgery is replacing? Pinhole Surgical Technique or Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation™ is a technique invented and patented by Dr. John Chao DDS in the early 2000s. It is a scalpel-free, suture-free, graft-free minimally invasive procedure to correct gum recession. Through a small hole made by a needle, specially designed instruments are inserted to gently loosen and lift the gum tissue off the bone. Then, collagen membrane is inserted under the gum tissue to prop it in the correct position over the exposed root surfaces.
It takes 6 months for the gum tissue to fully maturate, but patients are pleasantly surprised by the instant cosmetic improvement.
This new way of correcting gum recession is much better than the traditional free gingival graft procedure where a periodontist would cut donor tissue from the roof of the mouth and move it to somewhere else in the mouth. That is a much more painful method of fixing gum recession. Plus, you’re limited to covering 3 teeth at a time since there’s only so much tissue that can be taken from the palate. In contrast, the Pinhole technique allows for the whole mouth to be done in one sitting!
Why is This Better Than Traditional Gum Grafting?
The main thing to know is that Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation is much, much less invasive, but there are other differences to:
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No scalpels or sutures vs. multiple cutting and suturing procedures.
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No donor tissue needed vs. Cutting out a chunk of your gums from the roof of your mouth, several times
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Pinhole Rejuvenation only needs one procedure vs. grafting larger areas takes many surgeries
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Healing takes one to two days vs. weeks and weeks
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Patient's see instant cosmetic improvement vs. potentially months​
DR. JOHN CHAO'S RESEARCH
Dr. John Chao developed his Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation technique over twenty-five years ago and has subsequently performed his procedure on hundreds of satisfied patients.
There are Other Benefits too!
A unique upside to Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation is that it helps re-establish the gingival seal around teeth which:
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Reduces bacterial leakage to stop bone loss to prolong lifespan of teeth
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Protects root surfaces from decay formation
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Covers root surfaces to eliminate sensitivity
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Improves esthetics for a more youthful appearance
Am I a Candidate for Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation?
Not everyone is a candidate for Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation, but the vast majority of potential patients will be.
An Ideal Candidate should :
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Miller Classification I or II – where the gums have receded but the papillas (the pointy parts of the gums between the teeth) are still intact, meaning that there is no interdental bone loss quite yet.
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Healthy gums
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No clenching and grinding(or wears a nightguard)
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Compliant with post-op instructions and post-op visits
Patients who are probably not a candidate for Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation
(and actually wouldn't be a candidate for gum grafting either):
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Uncontrolled periodontal disease
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Lingual recession (gum recession on the tongue side)
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Tobacco use or smoking/vaping
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Bruxism (clenching and grinding)
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Currently in orthodontic treatment
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Pregnant or lactating women
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ASA III or worse - which indicates a patient with severe systemic disease with substantial functional limitations (i.e. uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure, morbid obesity, a history of a heart attack or stroke, or end-stage renal disease, COPD)
How does this Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation align with Swiss Biolgic’s holistic approach to dentistry
How does this technique align with Swiss Biolgic’s holistic approach to dentistry, and what materials or techniques are used to ensure biocompatibility?Gum recession is ubiquitous. Almost all patients will say no to traditional grafting because it’s painful. So the alternative has been to just monitor the gum recession and maybe fabricate a nightguard and go over brushing techniques. Now, Pinhole allows us to intervene and regenerate the gum tissue in order to lengthen the lifespan of these teeth. Keeping teeth longer means being able to eat healthy diverse foods, obtaining proper nutrients, and psychologically feeling confident about one’s teeth, which leads to a higher quality of life, and thus a longer life. The collagen membrane used is Geistlich Biogide ® . Geistlich is a Swiss brand. And the Biogide specifically has had 20 years of successful use in more than 4.5 million patients and documented in more than 250 scientific publications. Bio-Gide is composed of collagen derived from veterinary-certified porcine peritoneum.Unlike other brands of collagen membrane, Biogide is manufactured without chemical cross-linking, thereby reducing any inflammatory or foreign body reaction. The natural collagen structure of Biogide permits prompt and homogenous vascularization and so brings about optimal tissue integration and wound stabilization. Biocomp Labs confirm that because they are resorbable, there is little to no reaction from the body.
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