Patent ID: 8052423
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: A61B,A61C,A61F

Abstract:
1. A tunneling method for dental block grafting, comprising the steps of: cutting a pair of incisions in the mucosa of a patient's mouth, each said incision being cut approximately equidistant from a recipient site for a dental implant; forming a tunnel in the mucosa extending between, and connecting, said pair of incisions using a dental implement, the dental implement extending through the tunnel; extending the tunnel coronally to undermine tissue covering the recipient site; suturing an acellular dermal matrix to an exposed end of the dental implement; pulling the dental implement through the tunnel to position the acellular dermal matrix within the tunnel; positioning the acellular dermal matrix throughout the recipient site; fixing the acellular dermal matrix by suturing; closing the pair of incisions; and fixing a block graft to the recipient site with at least one screw.