LAKE FOREST, Calif. - s4story -- Receding gums can expose tooth roots, cause sensitivity and change how teeth look. Pankaj R. Narkhede, DDS, MDS, Honored Fellow AAID, a Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique (PST) certified dentist at 24602 Raymond Way, Suite L, Lake Forest, explains how pinhole gum surgery works and who may be a candidate.

How it works. Traditional gum grafting often takes tissue from the roof of the mouth and uses stitches. In the pinhole technique, created by Dr. John Chao, the dentist makes a small opening in the gum, uses specialized instruments to loosen the tissue, and moves it over the exposed root. Collagen strips help hold it in place. According to its developer, it requires no scalpel, sutures or palatal graft.

What studies show. Connective tissue grafting is still widely considered the standard for root coverage. Published studies, including a 2012 case series by Dr. Chao and a 2025 randomized trial, report results for suitable cases, but some of the research involves the technique's developer and results vary. Candidacy depends on the type and severity of recession, gum thickness and gum health, and is decided after an exam.

More on S For Story

• Freight Broker 911 and Milton Collier Introduce "What's The 911?"—A New Podcast Built on Real Talk, Real Freight, and Real Opportunity
• PropAccount.com Launches PropWallet, Turning Prop Firm Payouts Into Repeat Sales
• Daughter of NBA Legend Dominique Wilkins, Ayisha Wilkins,Breaks Her Silence in Revealing New Memoir
• History Matters - The Election of 1800
• KOLBUS America, For All Of Your Hycorr Equipment And Service Needs

"Gum recession isn't one-size-fits-all. Patients deserve a clear exam, a clear explanation of their options and honest information about what the evidence shows." – Dr. Narkhede

The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique (PST) : https://www.dentistlakeforestca.com/dental-services/pinhole-gum-surgery/

Recognized in Lake Forest and beyond.
Dr. Narkhede's practice earned a place on the Lake Forest Award Program's Best of Lake Forest list in the Dentist category in 2023 and again in 2024. He also received a 2026 BusinessRate Top 3 recognition, and the practice reports being voted a Top 10 Local Dentist in Orange County. In December 2021, the Global Summits Institute conferred its Doctor-to-Doctor "World's Top 100" achievement award on him as part of its 2022 Interdisciplinary Cohort, and he is an Honored Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. These honors reflect local reputation and program selection rather than clinical outcomes, so patients are encouraged to weigh them alongside licensure, training and a written treatment plan.

More on S For Story

• Heritage at Hopewell Announces New 3.875% Year-One Mortgage Rate Buydown Incentive on Quick Delivery Townhomes (7.11% APR)
• New TROP2 Research Breakthrough Strengthens REQORSA® Gene Therapy Story as Roche Collaboration Advances Precision Lung Cancer Treatment: Genprex, Inc
• Julie Wright Halbert's Live and Die Awake Explores Love, Loss, and Living Fully
• CareVantage Solutions Adds Five Short Guides and Five Regular Books to The Caregiver Library
• Rent a Truck or Hire Movers? New Data Shows Fuel Now Makes Up to 40% of DIY Moving Costs

Learn More about the dentist and the practice's Awards: https://www.dentistlakeforestca.com/about-us/meet-the-doctor/

Contact Information:
Pankaj R. Narkhede, DDS, MDS, Honored Fellow AAID
24602 Raymond Way Suite L
Lake Forest, CA 92630
949-770-0966
https://www.dentistlakeforestca.com/