Pinhole Gum Grafting in Redmond, WA
Treat Gum Recession Without a Scalpel
The Chao Pinhole® technique corrects receding gums through one tiny opening. No incisions, no sutures.
What Gum Recession Does
Gum recession is the gradual loss of gum tissue along the gumline, and it usually happens slowly enough that people do not notice until a tooth starts looking longer or feeling sensitive. Periodontal disease, aging, grinding, genetics, and years of brushing too hard are the usual causes.
It matters because the gum is what covers the root. Once the root is exposed it has no enamel protecting it, which leaves it far more vulnerable to decay and to sharp sensitivity with anything hot, cold, or sweet. Left alone, recession keeps progressing — and advanced cases put the supporting bone, and eventually the tooth itself, at risk.
Signs of recession worth mentioning to us
- Teeth that look longer than they used to
- A notch or step you can feel where the tooth meets the gum
- Sensitivity to cold, heat, or sweetness in specific teeth
- Roots that appear darker or more yellow than the crown above them
- Gums that look thin, red, or tender along the margin
- A tooth that has started to feel slightly loose
What the Chao Pinhole® Technique Is
The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique is a minimally invasive way to correct gum recession. Instead of cutting and grafting, your dentist makes a single small opening — roughly the size of a pinhole — and uses specially designed instruments to gently loosen the existing gum tissue and guide it back down over the exposed root, where it is held in place while it reattaches.
No scalpel. No sutures. No tissue harvested from the roof of your mouth. The technique and its instruments were developed by Dr. John Chao, and our practice has been trained in the protocol.
A note on the name
You will often see this called “pinhole gum grafting,” and that is how most people search for it — but strictly speaking, no graft is involved. The entire point of the technique is that it repositions the gum tissue you already have rather than transplanting tissue from somewhere else.
Pinhole vs. Traditional Gum Grafting
Traditional gum grafting works, and for decades it was the only option. It involves taking a piece of tissue — usually from the palate — cutting the gum at the recession site, stitching the graft into place, and recovering from two surgical sites instead of one.
The pinhole technique produces comparable coverage with a very different patient experience.
What changes with pinhole
- No donor tissue taken from the roof of your mouth — the palate is left alone entirely
- No incisions and no sutures
- Multiple teeth can often be treated in a single visit
- Noticeably less discomfort afterward
- Faster recovery, with most patients back to normal quickly
- Results are visible immediately rather than after weeks of healing
When traditional grafting or a periodontist is the better choice
Pinhole is not right for every case. Very advanced recession, thin or fragile tissue, active periodontal disease that needs treating first, or situations where the underlying bone is compromised may call for conventional grafting or a periodontist’s scope. We will tell you honestly which category you are in once we have looked.
What to Expect
Step 1: Evaluation
We measure the recession on each affected tooth, assess your gum health and the tissue available to work with, and identify what is causing the recession in the first place. If active gum disease or a grinding habit is driving it, that gets addressed too — otherwise the recession simply returns.
Step 2: The procedure
The area is fully numbed. Your dentist makes the pinhole opening, loosens the gum tissue, and repositions it over the exposed roots, then places small collagen strips through the same opening to hold everything in position. Several teeth are often treated in one appointment. Oral sedation is available if you would like it.
Learn more about Sedation Dentistry →
Step 3: Recovery
Most patients describe mild soreness rather than pain, and many are back to normal activity the next day. You will get specific instructions — soft foods for a short period, no brushing the treated area at first, and no pulling at your lip to inspect the result.
Step 4: Follow-up
We see you back to confirm the tissue is holding its new position and healing as expected, then keep an eye on it at your routine cleanings.
Protecting the result
- Brush gently with a soft-bristled brush — aggressive brushing is a leading cause of recession
- Keep up your routine cleanings so we can monitor the gumline
- If you grind or clench, wear a night guard; grinding stresses the gumline directly
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the pinhole procedure hurt?
The area is fully numbed throughout. Afterward, most patients describe mild soreness rather than pain, and many are back to normal activity the next day. Because there are no sutures and no donor site on the palate, recovery is considerably easier than traditional grafting. Oral sedation is available if the procedure makes you anxious.
How is this different from traditional gum grafting?
Traditional grafting takes tissue from the roof of your mouth, cuts the gum at the recession site, and stitches the graft into place — leaving you with two areas healing at once. The pinhole technique works through one small opening, repositioning the gum tissue you already have. No incisions, no sutures, no donor site.
Is there really no graft involved?
Correct — despite the common name “pinhole gum grafting,” no tissue is transplanted. Your existing gum tissue is loosened and guided back over the exposed root, then held in place with small collagen strips while it reattaches.
How long is recovery?
Most patients return to normal activity within a day. You will be asked to stick to soft foods briefly, avoid brushing the treated area at first, and resist pulling at your lip to inspect the result. We see you back shortly afterward to confirm everything is holding as it should.
Can several teeth be treated at once?
Often, yes. One of the practical advantages of the pinhole technique is that multiple teeth — and sometimes an entire arch — can be addressed in a single appointment, where traditional grafting typically requires treating a smaller area at a time.
How long do the results last?
Results are intended to be lasting, and the coverage is visible immediately rather than after weeks of healing. Longevity depends on addressing what caused the recession — gentle brushing, treating any gum disease, and wearing a night guard if you grind.
Am I a candidate for pinhole gum grafting?
Most patients with mild to moderate recession and reasonably healthy gum tissue are. Very advanced recession, thin or fragile tissue, untreated periodontal disease, or compromised underlying bone may call for traditional grafting or a periodontist instead. We measure the recession and assess the tissue before recommending anything.
What causes gum recession?
The common causes are periodontal disease, brushing too aggressively or with a hard-bristled brush, grinding and clenching, genetics, and simple aging. Identifying which applies to you is part of the evaluation — treating the recession without addressing the cause means it comes back.
Does insurance cover pinhole gum grafting?
Many PPO plans cover treatment for gum recession, though coverage for this specific technique varies by plan. We verify your benefits and give you a clear estimate before treatment begins. CareCredit financing is available.
