Pinhole Surgical Technique or PST Explained
At Riverbend Dental Health in Calgary, we get many questions about Pinhole Surgical Technique. Understandably, this is a confusing topic and we want everyone that is currently researching on the internet to gain a clear understanding. Let’s dive into PST and bring everything to light.
First, why are people interested in pinhole surgical technique?
The short answer is that when the gums that surround your teeth start shrinking away from where they should be, it causes all sorts of health problems.
The more technical answer is that dentists and periodontists have developed surgical approaches to readjust the gums to a healthy gum line level. The term periodontal means issues related to tissue and structures surrounding and supporting teeth. But as we will see, there are different approaches to solving gum recession, one of which is PST.
Second, let’s make sense of all those terms because it’s much more confusing than it needs to be.
We will use the acronym PST (Pinhole Surgical Technique) to refer to this type of gum procedure. You will find other terms like Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation, Lunchtime Gum Lift, Heartpoint Referral Program or Pinhole Gum Surgery but they all describe the same procedure.
When we say PST, what do we mean?
- Taught in advanced dental schools in the USA
- Invented and perfected by Dr. Chao
- Less invasive as it requires no scalpels, grafting or sutures.
- Competes with the older Connective Tissue Graft procedure
- Gums are nestled back into place through small pinholes
- Less downtime as most patients can return to work on the same day
- Less costly as the procedure requires less “surgery” time
Third, let’s talk about dentists that belong in your PST research.
Who is John C. Chao, D.D.S.?
Dr. Chao is an American dentist and the inventor of PST who initiated studies and developed this procedure starting in the year 2000. As a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Buffalo, SUNY, Dr. Chao produced a major study evaluating the Pinhole Surgical Technique. Dr. Chao has served as faculty at the USC School of Dentistry because he believes the best way to learn more is to teach. He incorporates stringent academic standards of diagnosis and treatment in his private practice. His induction as a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry is just one example of the many awards and accreditations. He has a widespread reputation as a lecturer and teacher both to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Who is Dr. Kent Stringham, D.D.S.?
Dr. Stringham is a dentist practicing in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His practice is named Riverbend Dental Health and many patients come from the surrounding area specifically to benefit from his knowledge of PST. He has performed the essential AND advanced PST courses in the USA. Since 2017, he has provided his Pinhole Surgical Technique services to over 100 patients at his dental practice. The best option is to email or call Riverbend Dental Health and indicate that you are interested in learning more about the procedure. Prima facie, Dr. Stringham is one of the most experienced PST practitioners in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Questions Answered Regarding Pinhole Surgical Technique
We hope that clears everything up about PST. One final note: like all procedures, PST is not suited for everyone. In some cases, it is not an option and other dental health solutions are required. Please make sure to watch the video where Dr. Stringham explains Pinhole Gum Surgery in the Calgary context. If you have any more questions related to Pinhole Surgical Technique or gum surgery, please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment and we can answer all your questions and evaluate your specific situation.
