What is Tissue Grafting/Allografting
If you’re reading this, it’s likely you or a loved one has been recommended for a gum/tissue graft. From your dentist’s examination of your mouth they have found that you would benefit from a procedure to treat areas where the roots of your teeth have become exposed. This procedure is necessary to cover the exposed roots as well as provide a zone of dense, tough tissue to help prevent continued or future recession of your gums. Coverage of the roots reduces root sensitivity, reduces risk of root decay, and enhances appearance. Failure to correct this problem leaves you at risk for
additional gum recession, root decay and potential loss of teeth. This tissue is used widely in medicine for many applications. Studies have shown that the surgical outcome with the AlloDerm is equivalent to that with palatal tissue. Thus, we can now provide you with the same results, while avoiding the second surgical
New and Improved Tissue Grafting:
In the past, tissue grafting treatment required transplantation of tissue removed from the roof of your mouth. Many patients have reported that this was a very painful and inconvenient experience and due to this, have opted out of having this important procedure performed in more than one area. They have also shared their experience with friends and family and therefore it is widespread “word of mouth” that tissue grafting or gum grafting is “very painful.” The good news is: Now we can use AlloDerm, a tissue obtained from a tissue bank, eliminating the need for two surgery sites (roof of the mouth and and at the gum site), reducing the discomfort by leaps and bounds and because it is donor tissue, we are not limited in the number of teeth that can be addressed at once. Often times,
there is more than one site that would benefit from grafting.
What is AlloDerm:
This AlloDerm tissue comes from a person who has passed on healthily (such as in an automobile accident) and has been extensively tested and approved for organ transplantation. Tissue is then obtained from the donor and processed for future transplantation. AlloDerm is derived from skin. It has had all cells and blood removed which precludes rejection of the tissue and eliminates the possibility of viral or bacterial presence. The processed tissue is delivered to our office in a sterile and freeze-dried form. This tissue already has all vessels present, so your body can more easily revascularize the graft and provide blood supply to the graft. Your body will then begin to replace the AlloDerm with your own tissue through normal cell turn over, and after twelve months, it will be completely replaced with your own tissue.