Receding gums are an irritating problem that most adults will face as they grow older. It is a normal sign of aging, but it also poses an increased risk of periodontal disease (disease relating to gums), as well as a variety of other health conditions. Additionally, habits such as smoking can further deteriorate gum health and increase the likelihood of periodontal disease.
Traditionally, gum graft surgery was the treatment of choice when it comes to receding gums. Unfortunately, gum graft surgery is quite invasive and includes a long recovery period that can last up to 3 weeks. Although the results are often great, most of the patients dread the discomfort and inconvenience that comes with gum graft surgery.
Lately, another method has been gaining traction in the receding gum treatment arena, focusing on providing comparable results to traditional gum graft surgery, but removing the invasive surgery and discomfort that people experience. The name of the treatment is the Pinhole Surgical Technique or PST.
What is the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST)?
Pinhole Surgical Technique is a gum rejuvenation treatment that helps alleviate receding gum condition. It is a minimally invasive treatment that can reverse the receding gum condition in a single sitting and requires little to no recovery time for most patients.
The procedure includes no actual cutting and sewing found in the traditional gum graft technique. Rather, PST relies on a custom set of surgical instruments that are used to make a miniature puncture in the gums and use the tools to stretch and correctly place the gums as they should be.
A periodontist will thoroughly and precisely pull all of the gum endings into place before applying fillers and collagen injections that will help hold the gums in place. It takes around 20 minutes to complete several front teeth, and for the whole mouth, the procedure can take anywhere from 60 minutes to 90 minutes.
Since there is no significant scarring caused by the procedure, the recovery time from the procedure is very short and most people can go about their day normally as soon as the procedure is complete. Due to this trait, PST has a nickname of Lunchtime Lift, as all it takes is a lunch break to complete the procedure.
Benefits of Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST)
The increase in popularity of PST is a direct result of the many benefits offered by the procedure and a patient-oriented approach to dental care. Some of the most obvious benefits of the Pinhole Surgical Technique are:
- Little to no discomfort and pain during the procedure – The procedure is completely painless, but it might cause a slight discomfort for some people while under the influence of a local anesthetic.
- Quick recovery time – The recovery is extremely short, with most of the people being able to walk out right after the procedure and go on about their day. This is nearly impossible on a traditional gum graft surgery, which always includes several weeks of recovery after the surgery.
- Fantastic results in a single visit – All it takes is one visit to complete the PST procedure and achieve natural-looking results that will last.
- No scalpels, no sutures – PST procedure does not include the use of scalpels and sutures, making it less invasive than traditional gum graft surgery.
Why You Should Schedule a PST Treatment at Wentz Periodontics
We at Wentz Periodontics take pride in helping restore and enhance your oral health and improve the look of your smile. We rely on state-of-the-art non-invasive procedures that create perfect smiles and produce long-lasting results.
Dental health has never been more important, as new studies show that individuals with poor dental health have an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, among other conditions. Take control of your dental health and make sure you are doing everything you can to stay on top of it.
If you have noticed that your teeth seem longer and your gums are receding, it might be time to explore alternative treatments to traditional gum graft. Pinhole Surgical Technique is a non-invasive procedure for treating receding gum condition.
Give us a call at Wentz Periodontics and schedule a consultation, so that our team of experts can explain the benefits of PST to you. For more information, feel free to contact us today at (806) 794-8365 and schedule your appointment.
