Dental Economics - November 2016

Before pinhole surgery
After pinhole surgery
Before connective tissue grafts
After connective tissue grafts

PINHOLE SURGICAL TECHNIQUE VERSUS CONNECTIVE TISSUE GRAFT

Pinhole Surgical
Technique:
Halting gingival recession
in a single visit
Tina Beck, DDS, MS

AS A PERIODONTIST, I see a lot of patients who have been aware of their gingival recession for several years, yet they have never followed through with treatment. Most patients with mucogingival defects have been referred to a periodontist at least once— and some may have even gone in for a consultation— but their fear of grafting prevented them from completing necessary treatment. Many patients have read or heard about others’ horror stories involving horrifically painful experiences with soft-tissue grafting. These patients are so terrified that they would rather risk continued attachment loss—and potential tooth loss—than proceed with grafting.

I’ve even heard dentists and hygienists share the same notion that “gum grafting” is a terribly painful procedure; in fact, so much so that it should only be done when the patient becomes symptomatic or is at immediate risk of tooth loss. Unfortunately, by this time the defect may have become so severe that it requires multiple procedures with less-than-ideal results, more pain, and greater expense than if they had corrected the problem when it was first recognized—that is, if the tooth can be salvaged at all. Wouldn’t you agree that the best time to intervene with most dental problems is when they are initially recognized?