Connective Tissue Grafting (Gum grafts)
Why would I need a gum graft?
Exposed roots are the result of gum recession. This is most often caused by vigorous tooth brushing or periodontal disease. Perhaps you don’t like the appearance of your smile due to the exposed roots that make your teeth appear too long. Or perhaps the exposed roots are causing sensitivity to hot, cold or sweets. Because the roots are soft, they can also become very susceptible to root decay and damage by toothpaste abrasives.
Prior to treating recession, it is important to determine the cause of the problem. Once the contributing factors are controlled, soft tissue grafting can help repair the problem and prevent further gum recession.
How does it work?
During this procedure, a thin piece of tissue will be taken from the palate or another donor area in the mouth and used to cover the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity. Of course there is only a certain amount of tissue that can be borrowed from the palate at one time. If additional grafting is needed, the palate will heal in approximately 6-8 weeks and additional grafts can be done at that time.
Will it hurt?
Local anesthesia may be used in conjunction with oral or IV sedation for this procedure. Patients experience little discomfort following treatment. A softer diet is recommended for a few weeks. Most patients return to work the following day.
The benefit of gum grafting is protection from decay, relief from sensitivity and a more esthetically pleasing smile.
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Do you have to use my tissue?
An alternative to using the tissue from your palate is to use AlloDerm. AlloDerm is a dermal matrix that allows us to give you the tissue grafts that you need, without the limitations of harvesting the tissue from the palate. Not everyone has enough tissue available, or wants to have the tissue taken from the palate. AlloDerm, unlike the palate, allows us unlimited tissue so that we can graft any number of teeth in just one surgery. The results using AlloDerm are equivalent to using the patient’s own tissue.
AlloDerm is processed from donated human tissue that must pass the same stringent screening criteria as any other implantable tissue or organ. Even before it undergoes processing, the donor tissue must pass rigid guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Besides its use in dental treatment, AlloDerm has been used extensively in Burn reconstructive Surgery and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery.
For additional information regarding AlloDerm visit Lifecell at www.biohorizons.com.
Before & After
Connective Tissue Grafting
Before Connective Tissue Grafting
After Connective Tissue Grafting
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