Pinhole Academy

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Pinhole Academy

The Pinhole Academy is the training center for The Pinhole Surgical Technique. Invented by Dr. Chao

The Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST®), invented and patented by John Chao, D.D.S., is a scalpel-free, suture-free procedure for correcting gum recession. Through a small pinhole made by a needle, Dr. Chao uses specially designed instruments to gently loosen the gum tissue and glide it over the receded part of the tooth. Since there is no cutting or stitching, patients can expect minimal post-opera

tive symptoms (pain, swelling and bleeding). Most patients also are pleasantly surprised by the instant cosmetic improvement.

05/29/2026

Are your gums receding?

Many people don't realize that receding gums can expose tooth roots, increase sensitivity, and affect the appearance of their smile.

The Pinhole® Technique was developed as a minimally invasive alternative to traditional gum grafting.

✔ No scalpel
✔ No sutures
✔ Multiple teeth can often be treated in a single visit
✔ Long-term documented results

Watch this real patient transformation and see what's possible.

Message us to learn more or schedule a consultation.

Actual patient. Individual results may vary.

05/16/2026

Clinical Observation — Gingival Recession

This case was completed on May 13, 2026, using the Pinhole® Surgical Technique to treat gingival recession on teeth #3, 4, 5, 9–17, and 22–30.

The images show a selected pre-operative view and an immediate post-operative view. In the immediate post-operative phase, the tissue demonstrates controlled coronal positioning, increased soft-tissue volume, and expected redness and swelling associated with early healing.

At this stage, the margin position is not considered final. The clinical focus is on tissue adaptation, stability, and biologic maturation over time.

The Pinhole® Surgical Technique is designed to treat gum recession by repositioning the patient’s existing gum tissue through a minimally invasive approach, without traditional graft harvesting, scalpels, or sutures.

For educational purposes only. Individual results may vary.

05/12/2026

Clinical Observation — Gingival Recession

Case Identification
Procedure: Pinhole® Surgical Technique
Tooth/Teeth: #3, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #14
Procedure date: 04/16/2026
Post-operative interval: 3 weeks
Procedure time: 11:23 AM – 12:28 PM

Observation Text

This case documents the early healing phase following treatment of gingival recession at teeth #3, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, and #14 using the Pinhole® Surgical Technique, a minimally invasive method designed to reposition gingival tissue without scalpel incisions or sutures.

At 3 weeks post-procedure, the treated maxillary sites demonstrate:

• Early soft-tissue adaptation across the treated gingival margins
• Increased coronal positioning of the marginal tissue compared with the recession pattern visible at baseline
• Broad tissue continuity across the anterior segment
• Mild residual erythema consistent with an early post-operative healing interval
• No visible sutures or scalpel-incision line in the observed field

At this stage, the final resting position of the gingival margin has not yet declared, as continued biologic remodeling is expected. The clinical objective of the procedure was to establish a stable soft-tissue environment and allow the patient’s own biology to determine long-term tissue position.

Images:
📸 Baseline → 3-week post-operative observation

05/01/2026

Clinical Observation — Gingival Recession

Pinhole® Surgical Technique
Teeth: #18–31
Procedure date: 4/9/2026
Post-operative interval: 10 days
Procedure time: 11:30 AM–12:37 PM

This case documents the early healing phase at 10 days following treatment of generalized mandibular gingival recession involving teeth #18–31 with the Pinhole® Surgical Technique.

Compared with baseline, the 10-day post-operative view demonstrates maintained coronal positioning of the gingival tissues, improved soft-tissue continuity, and early tissue maturation across the treated mandibular arch. Mild residual erythema remains present, consistent with this stage of healing and ongoing biologic remodeling.

At this stage, the final resting position of the gingival margins has not yet fully declared, as continued maturation is expected.

📸 Baseline → 10-day post-operative observation

04/10/2026

Clinical Observation — Gingival Recession

Pinhole® Surgical Technique
Teeth: #18–31
Procedure date: 4/9/2026
Post-operative interval: Immediate post-operative observation
Procedure time: 11:30 AM–12:37 PM

This case documents the immediate post-operative phase following treatment of generalized mandibular gingival recession involving teeth #18–31 with the Pinhole® Surgical Technique.

Baseline and immediate post-operative views show coronal repositioning of the gingival tissues across the treated mandibular arch, with increased soft-tissue volume and improved tissue continuity. Mild erythema and edema are present, consistent with the expected immediate healing response.

At this stage, the final resting position of the gingival margin has not yet declared, as continued biologic remodeling is expected. The clinical objective was to establish a stable soft-tissue environment and allow long-term tissue position to be determined by the patient’s own biology.

The Pinhole® Surgical Technique was developed by Dr. John Chao as a biologically guided, minimally invasive approach to the management of gingival recession.

03/17/2026

Follow-up healing results from the live surgery case presented during our February 6, 2026 Pinhole® Seminar.

These photos show the case before surgery, immediately after surgery, 1 day after, and 1 week after treatment.

Especially meaningful for the doctors who attended and observed the procedure live that day, and helpful for our entire Pinhole® community.

03/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday and today, you were an amazing group! Special thanks to Dr. Xue and Dr. Zhang for organizing this group and making this seminar so memorable! ❤

02/21/2026

Clinical Observation — Gingival Recession
Procedure: Pinhole® Surgical Technique
Tooth/Teeth: #3–5
Procedure year: 2013
Post-operative interval: ≈13 years (2026 observation)

This post documents a long-term clinical observation interval following treatment of gingival recession using the Pinhole® Surgical Technique. At this stage, evaluation focuses on soft-tissue stability, tissue health, and the maintained clinical environment as the result of ongoing biologic remodeling.

02/13/2026

Clinical Observation — Gingival Recession

Case Identification
• Procedure: Pinhole® Surgical Technique
• Tooth: #6
• Procedure year: 2013
• Post-operative interval: 12 years (follow-up year: 2026)

At 12 years post-procedure, the treated site demonstrates long-term soft-tissue stability, with mature tissue appearance and improved continuity relative to baseline. Ongoing biologic remodeling over years is reflected in the integrated color/contour characteristics typical of long-term maturation.

02/12/2026

Clinical Observation — Gingival Recession

Case Identification
• Procedure: Pinhole® Surgical Technique
• Tooth/Teeth: #4, 6, 7
• Procedure year: 2013
• Post-operative interval: 12 years (observed 2026)

Observation Text
This case documents the late healing phase following treatment of gingival recession at teeth #4, 6, and 7 using the Pinhole® Surgical Technique, a minimally invasive method designed to reposition gingival tissue without scalpel incisions or sutures. At 12 years post-procedure, the treated sites demonstrate clinically stable soft-tissue contour and margin appearance in this view, consistent with long-term tissue maturation. Continued biologic remodeling is expected over time, and long-term tissue position remains dependent on host response and local conditions.

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100 S 1st Street
Alhambra, CA
91801

Website

http://www.pinholeacademy.com/

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