Pinhole Surgical Technique ®

Receding gums and significant gum loss, also known as gingival recession is a common complaint from patients. Recession of the gums can lead to a condition past generations referred to as being “long in the tooth” due to the fact that the roots of one’s teeth become visible.  This condition is also responsible for aging one's smile and forcing many to smile - without showing their teeth.  

The innovative Pinhole Surgical Technique ®  performed by Dr. Mason Luedeker can reverse this recession without the need for traditional gum-grafting surgical procedures that involved multiple visits over time to:

  • Create a flap from the roof of the mouth using a scalpel,

  • Reposition the flaps to the exposed areas of roots (at the gumline) and 

  • Stitch them in place.

Dr. Luedeker is one of only a handful of doctors in the United States that offers this revolutionary procedure for dealing with an age-old problem. Pinhole has been tested over years and proven to be a reliable alternative to grafting procedures in most cases. In fact, Dr. Luedeker was taught the procedure by Dr. Chao, the inventor of the procedure.

How exactly does Pinhole Surgical Technique ® work? 

After a thorough exam, diagnosis is presented and the affected teeth are charted which allows Dr. Luedeker to:

  • Treat all the teeth of one arch (maxillary & mandibular) in ONE visit,

  • Perform procedure under local anesthesia in the office,

  • Typically recommend ONLY over-the-counter (OTC) medication,

  • Clean the teeth, place small entry (~0.1inches) rather than “cutting”,

  • Use specialized instruments to perform procedure and stabilize with collagen membrane to stabilize and maintain a new gum line,

  • Quick, virtually pain-free recovery,

  • Treat all the teeth at one visit, and

  • All without a second surgical site on the roof of the mouth.

Gum recession is the exposure of the tooth roots caused by the gum tissue retracting. Gum recession is most commonly caused by:

  • Genetics

  • Teeth that are out of alignment

  • Teeth grinding

  • Trauma to the teeth

  • Overly-aggressive brushing or flossing

  • Severe gum disease