Most patients report that the surgery itself is painless. There is some slight discomfort after the surgery, with patients saying they feel a burn on the roof of their mouth.
Gum recession treatments are a restorative procedure used to halt tissue loss and cover the exposed roots of teeth. It is estimated that 23% of adults in the US have tooth surfaces with ≥ 3 mm gingival recession [1] (Chan et al., 2016). While lost gum tissue cannot regrow, it can be restored through procedures such as tissue grafting, the Pinhole surgical technique, or guided tissue regeneration. These types of treatments help to stabilize the gum line, reduce sensitivity, and improve the look of your smile. At Enamel Dentistry, we customize the approach to treat the severity of gum recession based on your goals for a healthy smile.
Many patients wonder if using a soft toothbrush and expensive toothpaste will help their gums return to normal. The short answer is no. Gum recession is the loss of tissue and sometimes the bone underneath the gums. It will improve your oral hygiene, which in turn will stop the gum recession from getting worse. It will not physically generate new cells to cover the tooth’s root. Something to also take note of is that aggressive brushing can often cause recession and is not helpful. To restore the gumline, we at Enamel Dentistry in Leander physically add tissue or modify the existing tissue to cover the defect of the gums.
During gum graft surgery, dentists typically take a small piece of tissue, usually from the roof of your mouth or a donor, and place it over the exposed root. Think of this as patching the knee hole in your favorite jeans, but with a biological material that will integrate with your body. There are three critical steps when it comes to a connective tissue graft.
The result ends up being a tougher gum line that stops further recession.
For the parents and professionals from Crystal Falls who are looking for alternatives to surgery, we have a few options. Here at Enamel Dentistry in Leander, we use methods such as the Pinhole Surgical Technique or laser-assisted therapy.
This method offers a cosmetic improvement that requires significantly less downtime than the traditional connective tissue graft. Patients who are treated with a minimally invasive Pinhole Surgical Technique result in overall root coverage of 96.7% after 6-month follow-up with minimal complications [2] (Reddy et al., 2017).
If your periodontal disease has gotten to the point where you have lost bone, then a connective tissue graft will not be sufficient. In this case, we need to use a highly specialized approach: Guided Tissue Regeneration. Stem cells in dentistry and the regeneration of hard dental tissues have become a reality in modern dentistry [3] (Olaru et al., 2021).
Barrier membranes are applied between the bone and gums. These stop the gum tissue from filling the space where the growing bone needs to go. Next, growth proteins are applied that trick your body into thinking that it is forming a new tooth. Ultimately, stimulating the production of cementum, ligament, and bone.
The following table will help to show how the treatments compare to each other.
Feature | Gum Graft | Pinhole | Regenerative therapy |
Primary goal | Thicken tissue | Cover roots | Regrow bone |
Invasiveness | Moderate | Low | Moderate to high |
Pain level | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
Recovery time | 1-2 weeks | 1-3 days | 2-4 weeks |
Durability | Very high | High | High |
Best candidate | Thin gums | Cosmetic concern | Bone loss |
At Enamel Dentistry, we don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. We evaluate the treatment options custom to the patient’s symptoms.
At Enamel Dentistry, we evaluate based on these 4 parameters.
Most patients report that the surgery itself is painless. There is some slight discomfort after the surgery, with patients saying they feel a burn on the roof of their mouth.
Soft tissues in the mouth heal remarkably fast. Pinhole treatment heals in about 24-48 hours. Gum graft takes about 1-2 weeks to heal.
Yes, once the gum line is restored, you can protect your results by using a soft-bristle toothbrush.
Dr. Devish Patel, DDS, provides comprehensive general and cosmetic dentistry at Enamel Dentistry Lantana near Barton Creek. With a focus on modern clinical care, he specializes in aesthetic treatments, alongside preventative and restorative maintenance. Dr. Patel is committed to delivering safe, evidence-based solutions that keep patients comfortable and informed at every step.
[1] Chan, H. L., Chun, Y. H., MacEachern, M., & Oates, T. W. (2015). Does Gingival Recession Require Surgical Treatment?. Dental clinics of North America, 59(4), 981–996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2015.06.010
[2] Reddy S. S. P. (2017). Pinhole Surgical Technique for treatment of marginal tissue recession: A case series. Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, 21(6), 507–511. https://doi.org/10.4103/jisp.jisp_138_17
[3] Olaru, M., Sachelarie, L., & Calin, G. (2021). Hard Dental Tissues Regeneration—Approaches and Challenges. Materials, 14(10), 2558. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14102558
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