The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique treats gum recession by moving your own gum tissue over an exposed root through a small opening, with no tissue taken from the roof of your mouth. Redondo Beach Dental Group offers it, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
If your teeth look longer than they used to or feel sensitive near the gumline, call (310) 542-6988 to book a gum evaluation and find out whether pinhole gum surgery fits your case.
What Pinhole Gum Surgery Is
The pinhole technique was developed by Dr. John Chao and first described in a 2012 journal article. It is a root coverage procedure, which means its job is to cover tooth roots left exposed by gum recession. Exposed roots have no enamel to protect them, so they tend to feel sensitive to cold and sweets and are easier for decay to reach. Covering them again protects the tooth itself, which is why the procedure sits alongside crowns and other restorative dentistry rather than only cosmetic work.
Pinhole surgery avoids the larger incisions and the palate donor site of a traditional graft, and in many cases no stitches are needed. A small opening is made in the gum with a needle, and specially designed instruments loosen the gum tissue so it can be slid down over the receded area. In many cases, small strips of collagen are tucked under the moved tissue to help hold it in its new position while it heals. No tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth.
How the Procedure Works, Step by Step
- A gum evaluation measures how far the gum has pulled back on each tooth and how deep the pockets are, and X-rays show the bone between the teeth.
- Any gum disease is treated first. Moving healthy tissue over an area that is still infected is unlikely to hold.
- On the day of treatment, the area is usually numbed with local anesthetic.
- A small entry point is made in the gum near the receded teeth.
- The gum tissue is gently loosened through that opening and guided down over the exposed roots.
- Collagen strips may be placed under the tissue to support it while it heals.
Several neighboring teeth can often be treated through the same opening.
Who the Pinhole Technique Suits
The pinhole technique depends on there being enough healthy gum tissue nearby to move. It tends to suit people who:
- Have recession on one or several teeth next to each other
- Have gums that are free of active gum disease, or have had it treated
- Have enough bone between the teeth to support the moved tissue
- Would rather avoid having tissue taken from the roof of the mouth
It may not be the right choice when the gum is very thin, when there is little firm gum left around the tooth, or when bone loss between the teeth is advanced. In those cases a graft, which adds new tissue instead of moving what is already there, is often the better option.
Pinhole Surgery or a Gum Graft?
Both procedures aim to cover exposed roots, and neither one is better for everyone. The difference is where the tissue comes from.
Soft tissue grafting places new tissue over the root and stitches it in place. That tissue may come from the roof of your mouth, from gum nearby or from a tissue bank. Grafting is the longest-established method, and it can thicken gum that is too thin to protect the tooth, which moving tissue cannot do.
The pinhole technique moves the gum you already have, so there is no second surgical site in the palate and usually no stitches. It relies on that existing gum being healthy and thick enough to cover the root once it is moved.
Which one fits depends on your gum thickness, how many teeth are involved and how much bone remains. Your dentist will go over those measurements with you before recommending either.
How Long the Results Last
The longest follow-up so far was published in 2026 in the International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry. It rechecked 68 treated sites in 28 patients from the original 2012 study after an average of 14.5 years, and 77.9% still had complete root coverage. That is a small case series written by the technique’s developer and colleagues, and only 28 of the original 43 patients were rechecked, so it shows what is possible in suitable cases rather than what any one person should expect.
What you do afterward matters as much as the procedure. Recession can return if the cause is still there, so the habits that protect any gumline apply here too:
- Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and light pressure
- Clean between your teeth once a day
- Avoid tobacco, which slows healing and raises the risk of further recession
- Keep up with cleanings, including periodontal maintenance visits if you have been treated for gum disease
Recovery After Pinhole Gum Surgery
Recovery after pinhole surgery is usually described as easier than recovery from a graft, because there is no donor site in the palate to heal. Some swelling, mild soreness or bruising in the treated area is common for a few days. Patients are usually asked to avoid brushing or chewing directly on the treated gums for a while and to eat soft foods at first. Healing time varies with the number of teeth treated, so ask what to plan for at your evaluation.
What Pinhole Surgery Costs
The cost of the Chao Pinhole technique depends mainly on how many teeth are treated, whether collagen is used and whether gum disease has to be treated first with scaling and root planing. Ask for an estimate after your evaluation so you know the number before treatment starts.
Dental plans that cover gum surgery to protect an exposed root may apply that benefit to pinhole surgery, while treatment done mainly for appearance is less likely to be covered. Your deductible and annual maximum still apply. We accept PPO plans; ask us how your plan applies to this treatment. For the remaining balance, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, plus an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique cost?
The cost of the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique depends on how many teeth are treated, whether collagen is placed and whether gum disease needs treating first. Because fees vary that much from case to case, ask for an estimate after a gum evaluation rather than relying on a single quoted price.
Does insurance cover pinhole surgical techniques?
Insurance may cover part of a pinhole procedure when it is needed to protect an exposed root, in the same way many plans cover gum grafting for gum health. Treatment done mainly for appearance is less likely to be covered, and your deductible and annual maximum still apply. We accept PPO plans; ask us how your plan applies.
How long does pinhole surgery last?
Pinhole surgery results can last many years in suitable cases. A 2026 follow-up by the technique’s developer and colleagues found complete root coverage at 77.9% of the 68 sites rechecked after an average of 14.5 years. Gentle brushing, cleaning between the teeth and regular checkups help the result hold.
What’s better, pinhole or gum graft?
Neither pinhole surgery nor a gum graft is better for everyone. The pinhole technique avoids taking tissue from the roof of the mouth but needs enough healthy gum nearby to move. A graft adds new tissue, so it is often preferred when the gum is thin or there is little firm gum around the tooth.
Can receding gums grow back naturally?
Receding gums do not grow back naturally, and a toothpaste, rinse or supplement will not regrow lost gum tissue. Treatment can stop recession from getting worse, and procedures such as the pinhole technique or a gum graft can often cover the exposed root again.
Is pinhole gum surgery painful?
Pinhole gum surgery is usually done with the area numbed by local anesthetic, which is meant to block pain during the procedure. Some soreness and swelling afterward is common for a few days, and how much you feel varies from person to person. Patients who feel anxious can ask about sedation options at their evaluation.
Who is not a candidate for the pinhole technique?
People with active gum disease, very thin gum tissue or advanced bone loss between the teeth are often not good candidates for the pinhole technique. Gum disease usually has to be treated first, and thin tissue may need a graft instead. A gum evaluation shows which group you fall into.
Book a Pinhole Consultation in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online, and mention that you are asking about pinhole gum surgery so the visit can be booked as a gum evaluation.
Chao Pinhole® is a registered trademark.