Alloderm
Soft tissue grafting procedures are utilized in periodontics to treat a number of dental conditions and deficiencies in gum tissue including gum recession. Traditional methods of soft tissue grafting rely on harvesting the patient’s own tissue through a series of incisions on the roof of the mouth. This tissue is then transferred to the deficient areas and secured in place. Although these methods have been shown to be effective treatments, patients typically report significant discomfort for a period of time following the procedure.
At Applewood Dental Centre, Dr. Nguyen offers a less invasive method of soft tissue grafting using a technological advancement called Alloderm. Alloderm is an alternative material used for soft tissue grafting that does not require harvesting of tissue from the patient. Alloderm is an accelular dermal matrix material that provides a scaffold on which the body can incorporate new blood vessels and grow new soft tissue cells.
Alloderm was originally developed for the treatment of burn patients by doctors in the 1950’s. Surgeons in hospitals throughout the country continue to use Alloderm to treat patients requiring reconstruction following procedures such as breast resection, head/neck dissection and severe burns. Alloderm was introduced in dentistry over a decade ago and is documented in numerous research studies to be safe and effective in treating dental soft tissue conditions.
Using Alloderm as an alternative to harvesting tissue through traditional methods allows our doctors to perform many soft tissue procedures in a minimally invasive fashion while providing predictable and esthetic results. Eliminating surgery on the roof of the mouth reduces post operative discomfort and offers many patients a pain free recovery from soft tissue grafting procedures.