AlloDerm Frequently Asked Questions
Healthy gum tissue is a critical component of good oral health. The gums help to protect the teeth from and aid in creating a beautiful smile. Receding gums and tissue loss around the teeth are serious and can suggest the presence of oral health issues. Through modern dentistry, there is a procedure which can reverse the loss of gum tissue. The grafting procedure used to require harvesting a piece of tissue from the roof of the mouth. Some patients do not have sufficient tissue or prefer to avoid the additional, sensitive tissue harvesting procedure. Patients now have other options.
AlloDerm is an excellent option used to restore a patient’s damaged gums and repair receding gum tissue. Patients heal quickly, discomfort is minimal, and there is not an additional surgical site. AlloDerm also offers exceptional results from an aesthetic perspective.
AlloDerm is a dermal matrix which gives dental professionals the ability to offer patients necessary tissue graft. It eliminates the limitations associated with harvesting graft material from within the patient’s own mouth. AlloDerm Regenerative Tissue Matrix is obtained from donated human tissue. It is required to pass the same stringent screening criteria used for other types of implantable tissue or organ such as heart, lungs, and kidneys. Prior to being processed, the donor tissue passes strict guidelines set by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Safety
In addition to use in dental procedures, AlloDerm has been used for patients who require burn reconstruction, and in plastic surgery cases. AlloDerm has been in use for more than nine years in over 450,000 procedures without any reported cases of viral disease transmission. The following are important safety factors associated with the use of AlloDerm:
- All tissue donors are fully screened and tested; any donor with potential exposure to HIV, Hepatitis B & C and other viral and microbial pathogens is excluded
- Tissue is processed and all cellular components are removed
- The agents which are used in the cell removal procedure have demonstrated the ability to inactivate the HIV virus
AlloDerm provides the collagen, structure and proteins needed to aid the body in restoring the natural tissue. Collagen serves as a blueprint for the patient’s own cells to grow into. Proteins draw the cells into the graft and direct them how it should be remodeled.
Healing
As the body begins to heal, the patient’s cells will move into the AlloDerm. The cells slowly transform the AlloDerm into healthy gum tissue. Once the gums are healed completely, the AlloDerm is virtually impossible to detect from the patient’s natural gums.
Post-surgery Expectations
The patient will likely have some swelling and mild bruising at the surgical site immediately following the procedure. The dental professional will place a dressing material placed over the graft area which must remain securely in place until it is removed by the doctor. Patients should avoid pulling on the lip to view the graft site and also avoid rubbing the tongue over the site as the graft could potentially dislodge or be disrupted.
For two weeks following the surgery, patients should not use toothpaste and avoid granular types of foods. The initial stage of healing is critical for the graft. The doctor often suggests that patients avoid the use of a toothbrush around the surgical site during this time. A mouth rinse and antibiotic may be prescribed for use following the procedure. It is critical for patients to practice good oral hygiene in order for the graft to be successful.
Significant healing will take place within the first week post-surgery. Depending on the surgery, it can take 2 to 6 months for the site to heal completely. The graft may appear white during the initial healing period. Over the next few weeks, the graft should return to a more natural tissue color. As with most procedures, the healing process can vary from patient to patient.
Your dentist can help answer any questions regarding the AlloDerm procedure, recovery time, limitations, and expectations.