Gum Grafting for Receding Gums: Connective Tissue Grafts, Free Gingival Grafts, and the Pinhole Technique Explained product guide

Smile Solutions Guide to Gum Recession Treatment: Grafting Techniques Explained

Frequently Asked Questions

What is gum recession: When the gum margin migrates away, exposing tooth roots

Is gum recession purely cosmetic: No, it has serious structural consequences

What percentage of adults over 30 have gum recession: Approximately 50%

Can gum recession cause tooth sensitivity: Yes

Can gum recession lead to tooth loss: Yes, if left untreated

Can gum recession cause root caries: Yes

Can gum recession cause cervical abrasion: Yes

What is the definitive treatment for moderate-to-severe gum recession: Soft tissue grafting

What is soft tissue grafting: Surgical transplantation of healthy tissue to recession sites

What type of specialist treats gum recession at Smile Solutions: Board-registered specialist periodontists

Where is Smile Solutions located: Level 12 and Tower, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD

How long has Smile Solutions provided specialist periodontal care: Since 1993

How many clinicians does Smile Solutions have: 60 or more

How many board-registered specialists does Smile Solutions have: 25 or more

How many patients has Smile Solutions treated: Over 250,000

Do you need a referral to book at Smile Solutions: No

What is the phone number for Smile Solutions: 13 13 96

What is the leading cause of gum recession in adults: Active periodontal disease

Does periodontitis-driven recession involve bone loss: Yes

Can grafting proceed during active periodontal disease: No, disease must be stabilised first

What brushing habit commonly causes gum recession: Vigorous horizontal scrubbing with a hard-bristled brush

Which teeth are most commonly affected by toothbrush-related recession: Buccal surfaces of canines and premolars

Is toothbrush-related recession preventable: Yes

Does toothbrush-related recession typically involve bone loss: No

What gingival biotype is most susceptible to recession: Thin, scalloped biotype

Is grafting ever recommended prophylactically for thin biotype: Yes

Can orthodontic treatment cause gum recession: Yes, particularly in patients with thin biotype

What is the gold standard graft for root coverage: Subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG)

Where is donor tissue harvested for SCTG: The palate (roof of the mouth)

Does SCTG remove the outer palatal epithelium: No, it is largely preserved

Why does SCTG heal faster than FGG at the donor site: The overlying palatal epithelium is preserved

What flap technique is most commonly combined with SCTG: Coronally advanced flap (CAF)

Why does SCTG have high graft survival: It receives dual blood supply from palatal tissue and overlying flap

What average root coverage rate does SCTG achieve in long-term follow-up: Up to 98%

What is the failure rate for SCTG by experienced periodontists: Under 2%

How long does SCTG root coverage remain stable: Up to 27 years, retaining 51.9% coverage

What percentage of SCTG patients would undergo the procedure again: 84.6%

How did patients rate SCTG satisfaction out of 100: 86.9 out of 100

Does SCTG provide good colour match with surrounding gum: Yes

Is SCTG suitable for the aesthetic zone: Yes

What does FGG stand for: Free gingival graft

When was the FGG technique first described: 1963, by Björn

What tissue does FGG harvest: Full-thickness tissue including epithelium and connective tissue

What is the primary goal of FGG: Increasing the width of keratinised attached gingiva

Does FGG provide good colour match: No, it often appears lighter or patchy

Is FGG suitable for the aesthetic zone: No

Does FGG donor site heal faster or slower than SCTG donor site: Slower

How does FGG donor site heal: By secondary intention (open wound)

What root coverage percentage does FGG achieve in advanced recession: Approximately 86%

How much does FGG reduce recession in long-term studies: Approximately 1.5 mm reduction

What happens to untreated recession sites over the same long-term period: Recession increases by 0.7 to 1.0 mm

Is FGG recommended for implant site augmentation: Yes, preferred for high-risk sites

What is the minimum keratinised tissue width that indicates FGG: Less than 1 mm

What does PST stand for: Pinhole Surgical Technique

Who developed the Pinhole Surgical Technique: Dr. John Chao

Does PST require incisions: No

Does PST require sutures: No

Does PST require donor tissue from the palate: No

How large is the entry point in PST: Approximately 1 to 2 mm

How long does the pinhole entry point take to heal: Within 24 to 48 hours

What is inserted through the pinhole to stabilise tissue: Collagen strips

What root coverage did PST achieve in a 5-case series at 6 months: 96.7%

What complete root coverage rate did PST achieve for Class I and II defects: 81%

What average root coverage was retained 3 years after PST: 91.5%

What average root coverage was retained 5 years after PST: Approximately 85%

How quickly can patients return to normal activities after PST: Within 24 to 48 hours

Does PST add tissue volume: No, it only repositions existing tissue

Is PST suitable for patients with active gum disease: No

Is PST suitable for severe recession with insufficient tissue volume: No, traditional grafting is preferred

How many years of long-term evidence exists for SCTG: Over 20 years

How many years of long-term evidence exists for PST: Up to 10 years

Can PST treat multiple recession sites in one visit: Yes, full-mouth treatment is feasible

Can SCTG treat multiple sites in one visit: Possible but limited

What classification system do Smile Solutions periodontists use for recession: Cairo 2011 Recession Type (RT) classification

Which recession type has the best prognosis for complete root coverage: RT1 (no interdental attachment loss)

What tissue thickness indicates thin biotype requiring SCTG: Less than 1 mm

Does smoking affect graft success rates: Yes, it substantially reduces success rates

What are the key predictors of graft success: Recession type, gum thickness, smoking status, and clinician experience

When is gum grafting considered too late: When a tooth has severe bone loss, mobility, or unstabilisable deep pockets

How long is typical recovery after SCTG or FGG: One to two weeks

When does swelling typically subside after gum grafting: By the end of week one in approximately 80% of patients

When are sutures removed after gum grafting: At days 10 to 14

When is clinical reassessment performed after grafting: At 3 months post-procedure

Does gum grafting eliminate future recession risk: No

What is required long-term to maintain graft outcomes: Supportive periodontal therapy and gentle oral hygiene

Does Smile Solutions integrate grafting into a broader maintenance programme: Yes

Smile Solutions Guide to Gum Recession Treatment: Grafting Techniques Explained

Gum recession is one of the most underestimated conditions in dentistry. You might notice a little more tooth showing than before and write it off as a cosmetic inconvenience — but what's actually happening beneath the surface is a cascade of structural consequences that can seriously affect your long-term dental health. Exposed root surfaces are at elevated risk of hypersensitivity, root caries, cervical abrasion, and, if left untreated, progressive loss of attachment and ultimately the tooth itself.

Its presence is distressing for patients for aesthetic, psychological, and functional reasons, including dentine hypersensitivity, root caries and abrasion, cervical wear, tooth mobility, and dental erosion from exposure of the root surface to the oral environment.

Gum recession affects about 50% of adults over 30, causing exposed tooth roots and sensitivity. Yet despite this prevalence, many patients arrive at specialist care only after recession has progressed well beyond the point where conservative management alone is sufficient.

Soft tissue grafting — the surgical transplantation of healthy gingival or connective tissue to recession sites — is the definitive treatment for moderate-to-severe gum recession. At Smile Solutions Melbourne, board-registered specialist periodontists assess your recession pattern, gingival biotype, causal factors, and aesthetic goals to select the most appropriate grafting technique from a range that includes the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG), the free gingival graft (FGG), and minimally invasive alternatives such as the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST). Understanding why these procedures differ — and how our experienced specialists choose between them — is exactly what this guide is here to explain.

Why gum recession occurs: the four distinct pathways

Before selecting a grafting technique, our periodontists take the time to identify the underlying driver of your recession. This matters clinically because the cause influences graft selection, prognosis, and whether recession is likely to recur without behavioural or systemic changes.

The causes of gum recession are always the result of more than one factor acting together, including anatomical factors (alveolar bone dehiscence, high muscle attachment, occlusal trauma, frenal pull, thin gingival biotype), inflammatory factors (destructive periodontal disease, dental plaque and supra/subgingival calculus), traumatic factors (vigorous oral hygiene habits, oral piercing), and iatrogenic factors related to reconstructive, conservative, orthodontic, periodontologic, or prosthetic treatment.

The four most clinically significant pathways seen at Smile Solutions are:

1. Periodontitis-driven recession

Active periodontal disease is the leading cause of recession in adults. Bacterial biofilm triggers inflammatory destruction of the supporting bone and soft tissue, causing the gingival margin to migrate apically. This recession is accompanied by loss of clinical attachment and alveolar bone — a distinction that directly affects graft prognosis (see our guide on Gum Disease Symptoms: How to Recognise the Early and Advanced Warning Signs of Periodontitis). Grafting in the presence of active disease is contraindicated; stabilisation through non-surgical or surgical periodontal therapy must come first (see our guide on Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatment).

2. Traumatic toothbrushing

Overzealous brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush — particularly using a horizontal scrubbing motion — mechanically abrades both the gingival margin and the root surface. This produces a characteristic notched recession pattern, typically at buccal surfaces of canines and premolars, often without any bone loss. It's one of the most common and entirely preventable causes of recession our specialists see.

3. Thin gingival biotype

A thin gingival phenotype is more often associated with gingival recession of infectious or traumatic origin, including after periodontal surgery, orthodontic treatment, extraction, or the fitting of a prosthesis fixed at intrasulcular margins.

The evidence is consistent: patients with thin and narrow gingiva tend to develop more recession than those with thick and wide gingiva. If you have a thin, scalloped biotype, you're inherently more susceptible to recession from any insult — and grafting to increase tissue thickness is frequently indicated before recession even develops, not only after.

4. Tooth position and orthodontic movement

Teeth positioned labially outside the alveolar housing or moved facially during orthodontic treatment can develop recession due to thin or absent overlying bone. The evidence suggests that orthodontic therapy can produce mild detrimental effects on the periodontium, particularly in patients with thin biotype. Identifying thin biotype before orthodontic treatment commences is therefore an important preventive step — and something our specialists are well-placed to assess as part of your comprehensive dental care planning.

The gold standard: subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG)

What is a connective tissue graft?

A connective tissue graft is a surgical procedure where a small section of tissue — typically harvested from the roof of your mouth (palate) — is transplanted to an area of gum recession or thinning. This technique is primarily used to cover exposed tooth roots, thicken gum tissue, and improve the overall appearance of your gums.

The subepithelial connective tissue graft harvests only the underlying connective tissue layer from the palate, leaving the outer epithelial surface largely intact. This is a meaningful distinction: the donor site heals more quickly and with less postoperative discomfort than techniques that remove a full-thickness wedge of tissue, which translates to a more comfortable recovery for you.

How the procedure works

The SCTG is most commonly combined with a coronally advanced flap (CAF) at the recipient site. Your periodontist:

1. Makes an incision at the palate (typically a "trap-door" or envelope technique) to access the subepithelial connective tissue
2. Harvests the graft while preserving the overlying palatal epithelium
3. Prepares the recipient site by elevating a split- or full-thickness flap over the recession
4. Positions the graft over the exposed root surface
5. Advances the overlying flap coronally to cover the graft and sutures

Palatal connective tissue grafts demonstrate increased survival because of the dual blood supply from the palatal connective tissue and the overlying marginal gingiva. This biological advantage is a primary reason why the SCTG consistently outperforms other techniques for root coverage.

Clinical outcomes

Autogenous subepithelial connective tissue grafts remain the most predictable and effective method for root coverage. The clinical evidence is compelling:

• Clinical studies define success as ≥70% root coverage and stable periodontal health after one year; connective tissue grafts achieve average root-coverage rates of 98% in long-term follow-up.
• Failure is rare — under 2% when performed by experienced periodontists and when patients follow post-operative care instructions.
• A 20-year randomised controlled study published in PubMed found that CTG showed significantly better relative root coverage than guided tissue regeneration after both 3 and 120 months.
• Root coverage holds at 88.7% after one year and remains at 51.9% even after 27 years.

The combination of CTG and CAF is considered the gold standard for treating gingival recession-type defects. It provides greater graft vascularisation through a double blood supply — supraperiosteal vessels plus the overlying flap — achieving higher rates of complete root coverage and better aesthetic results than free gingival grafts, with colour that matches the surrounding gingiva.

Patient satisfaction is also high. A detailed study found that 84.6% of patients were willing to undergo the procedure again, and patients rated their satisfaction 86.9 out of 100.

When Smile Solutions periodontists recommend SCTG

The SCTG is our preferred technique when:

• Root coverage is your primary objective
• Recession is in the aesthetic zone (front teeth)
• Tissue colour match matters to your result
• Multiple adjacent recession sites need treatment
• You have adequate palatal tissue volume for harvesting

Free gingival graft (FGG): building a robust keratinised tissue band

What is a free gingival graft?

A free gingival graft involves removing a full-thickness wedge of tissue — epithelium included — directly from the palate and transplanting it to the recipient site. This method is particularly useful when your gum tissue is thin and needs a wider band of keratinised tissue to provide lasting protection.

The FGG technique was first described by Björn in 1963 and was developed to enhance zones of attached gingiva. Its primary indication today is preventing peri-implantitis and facilitating oral hygiene through keratinised attached gingiva augmentation at both tooth-borne and peri-implant sites.

How it differs from SCTG

The fundamental distinction between FGG and SCTG lies in what is harvested and what the procedure is designed to achieve:

In advanced gingival recession, a coronally advanced flap with connective tissue graft produces the best clinical outcomes, with root coverage reaching approximately 86%. Free gingival graft is an excellent choice when keratinised gingiva is inadequate — but it does not provide a colour match, so it's not appropriate for the aesthetic zone.

Studies confirm that the area grafted with CTG more closely matches the colour of adjacent gingiva than the area grafted with FGG.

When Smile Solutions periodontists recommend FGG

The FGG is specifically indicated when:

• Your primary need is to increase the width of attached, keratinised gingiva rather than cover roots
• Recession is in a non-aesthetic zone (typically lower posterior teeth)
• You have very thin, friable tissue requiring more substantial augmentation
• Pre-implant soft tissue augmentation is planned to reduce peri-implantitis risk (see our guide on Peri-Implantitis Treatment)
• Keratinised tissue width is less than 1 mm

A split-mouth study following 73 subjects for 10 to 27 years found that teeth receiving a free gingival graft had approximately 1.5 mm reduction in recession. Contralateral untreated sites experienced 0.7–1.0 mm of additional recession over the same period. This long-term comparison makes clear the protective effect of FGG even where root coverage is not the primary goal — and reinforces the case for early, evidence-based intervention.

The Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST): a minimally invasive alternative

What is the Pinhole Technique?

The Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST), developed by Dr. John Chao, treats gum recession without incisions or stitches. Rather than grafting tissue, a small pinhole-sized entry point is created in the gum, and specialised instruments gently loosen the tissue and slide it over the receded areas. This covers exposed roots and restores the gumline without sutures.

The technique eliminates donor tissue, sutures, and substantially reduces postoperative swelling, pain, and bleeding. For patients looking for a less invasive path to addressing recession, PST offers immediate aesthetic improvements, minimal discomfort, and a rapid healing process.

How PST works

1. Local anaesthesia is administered
2. A needle-sized entry point (approximately 1–2 mm) is made in the gum tissue above the recession site
3. Specialised instruments are inserted through the pinhole to gently loosen the gingival fibres
4. The gum tissue is repositioned coronally (upward) to cover the exposed root surface
5. Collagen strips are inserted through the pinhole to stabilise the repositioned tissue and support healing
6. No sutures are required; the pinhole heals within 24–48 hours

PST carries additional biological and aesthetic advantages: there is no disruption of the lateral vascular supply, no scar formation, and reduced treatment time.

Clinical evidence for PST

A series of five cases with 18 recession sites treated with PST resulted in overall root coverage of 96.7% after 6-month follow-up with minimal complications.

A study evaluating PST over a decade found significant reductions in recession, with 81% complete root coverage in Class I and II defects.

For long-term stability: one study followed patients for three years after pinhole treatment and found average root coverage of 91.5%. A separate 5-year study found that approximately 85% of root coverage was retained.

Important limitations apply, however. Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term effects and the biological mechanisms behind the technique. Not everyone is a candidate for PST — to achieve a good outcome, you must have no active gum disease or inflammation, something our specialists will carefully assess during your initial consultation.

PST compared to traditional grafting

PST suits patients with mild to moderate recession who want a less invasive option with faster recovery. When tissue volume is insufficient or recession is severe, traditional grafting is the more appropriate choice — and your Smile Solutions specialist will always guide you toward the option that genuinely fits your situation.

How Smile Solutions periodontists select the right technique

Technique selection is a clinical judgement informed by multiple intersecting factors, and it's one of the most important things your specialist brings to your care. At Smile Solutions' initial specialist periodontal consultation (see our guide on Your First Periodontist Appointment at Smile Solutions), the following variables are carefully assessed before any grafting recommendation is made:

Recession classification. The Cairo 2011 Recession Type (RT) classification — now the international standard — stratifies recession based on the presence and severity of interdental attachment loss. RT1 recessions (no interdental loss) carry the best prognosis for complete root coverage; RT2 and RT3 involve progressively greater interdental destruction and reduced predictability.

Gingival biotype. Initial gingival thickness predicts the outcome of root coverage procedures and restorative treatments. If you have a thin biotype (less than 1 mm tissue thickness), you'll typically benefit from a volume-adding SCTG. Those with very thin tissue in non-aesthetic zones may need FGG to establish a durable keratinised band first.

Number and distribution of recession sites. Multiple adjacent recession sites are well-suited to PST (which can address the full mouth in a single appointment) or to a tunnel technique SCTG approach. Isolated deep recession at a single tooth typically favours a CAF combined with SCTG — and your treatment plan will reflect exactly this kind of site-specific thinking.

Aesthetic zone vs. non-aesthetic zone. Connective tissue grafts adapt well around front teeth; free grafts are more useful for posterior areas with thin tissue. Colour matching is paramount in the aesthetic zone, where SCTG or PST is strongly preferred over FGG.

Active disease status. Gum grafting works best when the supporting bone and soft tissue are still healthy. It is considered too late when a tooth has severe bone loss, is mobile, or has deep periodontal pockets that cannot be stabilised, or when the recession exposes a large, worn, or decayed root surface. All active periodontal disease must be resolved before mucogingival surgery proceeds.

Systemic and lifestyle factors. Key predictors of success include recession type, gum thickness, smoking status, and clinician experience. Smokers face substantially reduced graft success rates and must be counselled accordingly (see our guide on Gum Disease Causes and Risk Factors). Our team takes a careful and direct approach to these conversations — because understanding your complete health picture is what allows us to deliver the best possible outcome for you.

What to expect: healing and recovery after gum grafting

Recovery varies by technique, but the following general timeline applies to SCTG and FGG procedures:

• Days 1–3: Mild to moderate discomfort, swelling, and some bruising. A soft diet is required; no brushing at the graft site.
• Days 4–7: Swelling typically subsides. About 80% of patients see less swelling by the end of week one. Sutures remain in place.
• Days 10–14: Suture removal at your review appointment. The graft site appears pink and slightly raised — this is normal and a sign of healthy healing.
• Weeks 3–6: Tissue continues to mature and blend with surrounding gingiva. Colour match improves progressively.
• 3 months: Clinical reassessment of root coverage, tissue thickness, and pocket depths.

For PST, recovery is considerably faster: you'll see immediate cosmetic results and are typically back to normal activities within 24 to 48 hours.

The typical recovery for a soft tissue graft ranges from one to two weeks, with initial discomfort subsiding after a few days. You'll be advised to avoid hard or crunchy foods, maintain good oral hygiene, and use prescribed mouth rinses to prevent infection. Our team will be with you throughout to ensure your recovery is as smooth as possible.

Long-term outcomes and maintenance

Long-term data (up to 20 years) show that grafted sites retain coverage, reduced sensitivity, and decreased recession risk for many years — often a lifetime — provided you avoid smoking, manage your systemic health, and practise gentle oral hygiene.

Gum grafting does not eliminate the risk of future recession if causative factors are not addressed. If you continue traumatic brushing, smoke, or have uncontrolled periodontal disease, you remain at elevated risk of recurrence. This is why Smile Solutions integrates gum grafting within a broader long-term supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) programme — including regular maintenance appointments, pocket depth monitoring, and home-care technique reinforcement (see our guide on Periodontal Maintenance: How to Prevent Gum Disease from Returning After Specialist Treatment). Good care doesn't end in the treatment chair; it continues through every stage of your ongoing dental health.

Key takeaways

• Gum recession has four primary drivers — periodontitis, traumatic brushing, thin gingival biotype, and tooth position — each requiring different clinical management before and after grafting.
• The subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) is the gold standard for root coverage, achieving average rates of up to 98% in long-term studies, with superior colour matching and aesthetics compared to free gingival grafts.
• Free gingival grafts (FGG) serve a distinct purpose: building a wider, more durable band of keratinised tissue in non-aesthetic zones, particularly where tissue volume augmentation is the primary clinical objective rather than root coverage.
• The Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST) is a genuinely less invasive option for patients with mild-to-moderate recession and adequate existing tissue volume, with 96.7% root coverage in case series and recovery measured in hours rather than weeks — but it does not add tissue volume and requires absence of active disease.
• Technique selection by a specialist matters. Failure rates below 2% are achievable when procedures are performed by experienced periodontists with appropriate case selection — which is why board-registered specialist periodontists at Smile Solutions, rather than general dentists, should manage complex mucogingival surgery.

Conclusion

Soft tissue grafting for gum recession is one of the most technically demanding procedures in periodontics. The difference between a predictable, aesthetically excellent result and a suboptimal one often comes down to the precision of the initial diagnosis, the appropriateness of graft selection, and the technical skill of the operating clinician. At Smile Solutions Melbourne, our board-registered specialist periodontists bring postgraduate specialist training, access to the full range of grafting techniques, and seamless integration with our broader multidisciplinary team — including prosthodontists who may be involved in complex restorative cases where soft tissue augmentation and crown or implant planning intersect (see our guide on Crown Lengthening and Gum Lifts at Smile Solutions).

If you've noticed your gums receding, are experiencing root sensitivity, or your general dentist has suggested you may need a gum graft, a specialist periodontal consultation at Smile Solutions is the right next step. Early intervention consistently produces better outcomes — and in the case of gum recession, waiting rarely makes the treatment easier. Our experienced specialists are here to assess your situation thoroughly, explain your options clearly, and develop a personalised treatment plan that puts your long-term dental health first.

Book your specialist periodontal consultation today.

Smile Solutions has been providing specialist periodontal care from Melbourne's CBD since 1993. Situated at the Manchester Unity Building, Level 12 and Tower, 220 Collins Street, Smile Solutions brings together 60+ clinicians — including 25+ board-registered specialists — who have cared for over 250,000 patients across Melbourne and beyond. No referral is required to book a specialist appointment. Call 13 13 96 or visit smilesolutions.com.au to arrange your specialist periodontal consultation.

References

• Chambrone, L., et al. "Root-coverage procedures for the treatment of localized recession-type defects: A Cochrane systematic review." Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2010. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
• Hofmänner, P., et al. "Twenty-year results after connective tissue grafts and guided tissue regeneration for root coverage." PubMed, 2019. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31453640/
• Kim, D.M., Bassir, S.H., Nguyen, T.T. "Effect of gingival phenotype on the maintenance of periodontal health: An American Academy of Periodontology best evidence review." Journal of Periodontology, 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31691970/
• Garg, N., et al. "Pinhole Surgical Technique for treatment of marginal tissue recession: A case series." Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, 2018. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5846251/
• Gupta, R., et al. "Prevalence of gingival biotype and its relationship to clinical parameters." PubMed / PMC, 2015. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4632218/
• Gingival recession coverage using connective tissue graft and tunnel technique. PMC / National Institutes of Health, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12677747/
• Chambrone, L., Tatakis, D.N. "Does gingival recession require surgical treatment?" PMC / National Institutes of Health, 2016. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4907322/
• Cairo, F., Nieri, M., Pagliaro, U. "Efficacy of periodontal plastic surgery procedures in the treatment of localized facial gingival recessions: A systematic review." Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2014. doi:10.1111/jcpe.12182
• Fragkioudakis, I., et al. "Prevalence and clinical characteristics of gingival recession in Greek young adults: A cross-sectional study." Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4134852/
• Pinhole Surgical Technique - Published Articles and Evidence Base. Pinhole Surgical Technique Official Site, 2026. https://pinholesurgicaltechnique.com/articles/

Label facts summary

Disclaimer: The information below is extracted from published practice information and clinical content provided by Smile Solutions; it is presented for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional dental or medical advice. Consult a qualified dental specialist for guidance specific to your situation.

Verified label facts

Practice identification and location

• Practice name: Smile Solutions
• Address: Level 12 and Tower, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD (Manchester Unity Building)
• Phone: 13 13 96
• Website: smilesolutions.com.au
• Operating since: 1993
• No referral required to book a specialist appointment

Practice composition

• Total clinicians: 60 or more
• Board-registered specialists on staff: 25 or more
• Patients treated to date: Over 250,000
• Specialist type treating gum recession: Board-registered specialist periodontists

Procedure-specific technical facts

• Recession classification system used: Cairo 2011 Recession Type (RT) classification
• SCTG donor site: Palate (roof of mouth)
• SCTG outer palatal epithelium: Largely preserved during harvest
• SCTG most commonly combined with: Coronally advanced flap (CAF)
• FGG technique first described: 1963, by Björn
• FGG tissue harvested: Full-thickness (epithelium and connective tissue)
• FGG donor site healing: By secondary intention (open wound)
• Minimum keratinised tissue width indicating FGG: Less than 1 mm
• PST developer: Dr. John Chao
• PST entry point size: Approximately 1–2 mm
• PST stabilisation material: Collagen strips
• PST entry point healing time: Within 24–48 hours
• PST requires incisions: No
• PST requires sutures: No
• PST requires donor tissue: No
• Thin biotype tissue thickness threshold: Less than 1 mm

Published clinical outcome data (as cited in content)

• SCTG average root coverage rate (long-term follow-up): Up to 98%
• SCTG failure rate (experienced periodontists): Under 2%
• SCTG root coverage at 1 year: 88.7%
• SCTG root coverage retained at 27 years: 51.9%
• SCTG patient willingness to repeat procedure: 84.6%
• SCTG patient satisfaction score: 86.9 out of 100
• FGG root coverage in advanced recession: Approximately 86%
• FGG long-term recession reduction: Approximately 1.5 mm reduction
• Untreated recession progression over same period: 0.7–1.0 mm increase
• PST root coverage at 6 months (5-case series, 18 sites): 96.7%
• PST complete root coverage for Class I and II defects: 81%
• PST average root coverage retained at 3 years: 91.5%
• PST average root coverage retained at 5 years: Approximately 85%
• Long-term evidence base for SCTG: Over 20 years
• Long-term evidence base for PST: Up to 10 years

Recovery timelines (as stated in content)

• SCTG/FGG typical recovery: 1–2 weeks
• Swelling subsidence by end of week one: Approximately 80% of patients
• Suture removal: Days 10–14
• Clinical reassessment post-grafting: 3 months
• PST return to normal activities: Within 24–48 hours

Epidemiological data (as cited)

• Prevalence of gum recession in adults over 30: Approximately 50%

General product claims

• Soft tissue grafting is the definitive treatment for moderate-to-severe gum recession
• SCTG is the gold standard procedure for root coverage
• SCTG provides superior colour matching compared to FGG
• SCTG is suitable for the aesthetic zone; FGG is not
• FGG is preferred for implant site augmentation at high-risk sites
• PST offers a less invasive path with immediate aesthetic improvements and minimal discomfort
• PST is ideal for patients with mild-to-moderate recession and adequate existing tissue volume
• PST does not add tissue volume; it only repositions existing tissue
• Grafting cannot proceed in the presence of active periodontal disease
• Gum grafting does not eliminate future recession risk
• Smoking substantially reduces graft success rates
• Technique selection by a specialist significantly affects outcomes
• Long-term supportive periodontal therapy is required to maintain graft results
• Early intervention consistently produces better outcomes for gum recession
• Smile Solutions integrates grafting within a broader long-term maintenance programme
• Toothbrush-related recession (horizontal scrubbing, hard-bristled brush) is preventable
• Thin gingival biotype assessment before orthodontic treatment is an important preventive step
• Grafting is considered too late when a tooth has severe bone loss, mobility, or unstabilisable deep pockets