Alloderm Frequently Asked Questions
Have your gums receded? Do your teeth look longer to you? You may be suffering from gum recession, a condition in which the gums pull away from the teeth and expose the roots. The consequences are not only aesthetic, but also functional: patients in this state suffer from dental sensitivity and are more prone to tooth decay. Also, teeth that aren't protected by gums are more unstable than normal and can fall out over time.
Why do gums recede?
There are 2 causes why you could suffer from this problem:
- You have periodontitis (or pyorrhea), a disease that destroys the gum and the bone supporting the teeth, until they fall out.
- You brush your teeth aggressively or the bristles on your toothbrush are so hard that they damage your gums.
In any case, the best solution to receding gums is gum grafting.
What is gum grafting?
Gingiva graft is a surgical procedure that serves to cover the parts of the tooth left uncovered after the withdrawal of the gum. During the operation, the surgeon takes a piece of tissue (usually from the roof of your mouth) and adds it to the areas where you have lost your gums. The benefits of gingival grafting are functional and aesthetic: it protects you from tooth loss and gives your gums a healthy appearance.
Why would I want to have a gum graft?
- Protects from bacteria.
- It is important to add gum to the places where it has receded because this acts as a barrier against bacteria. Without this obstacle, plaque bacteria can enter undisturbed between the tooth and bone and cause diseases such as periodontitis.
- Give you a more beautiful smile.
- If you feel embarrassed that some teeth appear longer than others, grafting can solve this cosmetic problem. The surgeon moves the gum line to a more natural level and caps the exposed root.
What if I don’t have enough gum tissue for a graft?
That is no problem! There are allogenic products on the market, like alloderm, that use laboratory-prepared human donor tissue instead of your own tissue. This way, your dentist can still repair your gums even if your remaining gum tissue is thin or in bad condition.
What is the healing like after a gum graft with alloderm?
After the operation you can go home immediately. If your dentist has used alloderm, you will have less healing, as none of your tissue was collected. If you need a complex operation, the surgeon may give you a sedative to relax. If that is the case, have a family member or friend drive you home, because driving in those conditions is dangerous. In the first 3 days you must not brush your teeth in the surgery area, either with a toothbrush or with dental floss, at least until you go to remove the stitches. At this stage, you will need to use an antibacterial mouthwash to get rid of the plaque. If you bleed, don't panic: these losses are often normal. The important thing is that when this happens you don't rinse your mouth, because if you do you will remove the clot and continue to bleed. If you see that you are losing a lot of blood, as a precaution, contact your dentist immediately.
What to eat after gum grafting?
For at least a week, avoid hot foods and eat only soft foods such as eggs, yogurt, soft cheeses, tofu, steamed vegetables, and mashed potatoes. After a week, there will be the first check-up, to evaluate if the graft is healing enough to start adding regular foods.
How long does a gum graft take to heal?
The complete healing of the tissue takes place after about 4 months: this is in fact the time necessary for the tissues to stabilize definitively.
Is the gum graft painful?
People who have had gum grafting say it can be a bit uncomfortable. But discomfort is relative, because each person has a different tolerance, which also depends on the type of surgery performed.