Gum grafting (or gingival grafting) is a procedure performed to reduce or eliminate areas of gum recession by placing gum tissue overtop that will slowly heal to the area. The gum tissue can be sourced in several different ways. Commonly, tissue was harvested from the roof of the mouth to be used for the recession site. This method causes an incision site on the roof of the mouth that can be painful and take time to heal. Alternatively, Alloderm gum grafting takes donor tissue that is altered in a lab to be used for the site of recession, significantly reducing pain and improving healing time.
What Causes Gum Recession
- Aggressive tooth brushing/ brushing with a hard toothbrush
- Clenching and grinding (causing excessive forces on the teeth)
- Malocclusion and crooked teeth (causing a traumatic bite and therefore excessive forces on the teeth)
- Frenum pulls (connective tissue that comes down too far to the teeth)
- Trauma (injuries, piercings, habits)
- Genetic predisposition
Why is Gum Grafting Necessary?
Gum grafting is the only way to replace gum tissue that has been lost to the recession. The gum level influences where the bone level sits around the tooth, and both are necessary to keep the teeth healthy and stable.
What is Alloderm?
Alloderm tissue comes from a tissue bank. The tissue is sterilized, purified and processed. It is altered in a lab, eliminating all cells to create a tissue matrix. The tissue matrix is processed to allow the receivers' own cells and tissue to grow and heal into the matrix. Over around six months, the entire donor matrix is replaced with the receiver's cells, and the original matrix is completely expelled from the body.
Benefits of Alloderm
- Improved healing time
- More predictable and cosmetically appealing outcome
- No painful harvesting site from extracted tissue on the roof of the mouth
If you believe you may benefit from Alloderm gum grafting or have any questions about it, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule an appointment.