Presented by: Dr. John Chao, DDS, MAGD
Description:
For decades, the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) has been regarded as the gold standard for treating gingival recession. However, recent peer-reviewed studies have established the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique (PST) as an evidence-based, minimally invasive alternative that eliminates the need for graft harvest and sutures.
In this webinar, Dr. Chao will review landmark publications, including the 14.5-year longitudinal study published in IJPRD and the University at Buffalo randomized clinical trial, both demonstrating that PST achieves comparable clinical outcomes to SCTG—while offering significant advantages in comfort, efficiency, and esthetics.
The session will also highlight protocols for integrating PST with orthodontic therapy, including:

• Performing PST before or during orthodontic treatment for patients with thin gingival phenotype or preexisting recession.
• How a short retainer stabilization phase (3–4 months) allows optimal soft-tissue healing before orthodontic reactivation.
• Case-based discussion on achieving soft-tissue stability and long-term esthetic outcomes without palatal grafting.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the scientific evidence comparing SCTG and PST.
• Understand the role of PST in pre- and mid-orthodontic management of gingival recession.
• Learn the step-by-step protocol for sequencing PST with orthodontic care.
• Discuss long-term outcomes and best practices for gingival stability.