Portland Smile Artistry & Periodontal Soft Tissue Gum Grafts

Indications for:

Not enough width of protective attached gum tissue.
An area of gum recession which is likely to get worse with toothbrushing and normal chewing of foods.
An area of gum tissue which may be prone to recession before or after the placement of a crown, bridge, or orthodontics.

We have found that you would benefit from a grafting procedure to treat areas in your mouth where the roots of your teeth have become exposed. In the past this required transplantation of tissue from the roof of your mouth. Now we can use AlloDerm, a tissue obtained from a tissue bank. This tissue comes from a person who has died healthy, such as in an automobile accident, then has been extensively tested and approved for organ transplantation. AlloDerm is derived from skin. It has had all cells and blood removed which precludes rejection of the tissue and eliminates any possibility of viral presence. The processed tissue is received in a sterile and freeze-dried form. After rehydration, it is used to replace the gum tissue that you have lost. Your cells inter the graft and slowly replace it resulting in regenerated gum tissue.

This grafting procedure is necessary to cover your exposed roots and provide a zone of dense tough tissue to help prevent future recession of your gums. Coverage of the roots reduces root sensitivity, reduces risk of root decay, and enhances appearance. Failure to correct this problem leaves you at risk for additional gum recession, root decay and potential loss of teeth.

Portland Smile Artistry Techniques for Grafting

I would like to inform you about a new periodontal surgical technique I have introduced in my practice. I am now using Alloderm rather than the patient's palate for most soft tissue grafting procedures, thus making gingival grafting free of palatal complications and more comfortable for the patient. This is especially nice for the young patient who needs grafting in the lower anterior region prior to orthodontic therapy.

AlloDerm is a sterile human connective tissue matrix that contains no blood and no cells. Therefore, there is no risk of rejection or potential for disease transmission. This tissue matrix has been in use in medicine and dentistry for nearly ten years, and there have been no cases of disease transmission in over 500,000 transplants. I have been using AlloDerm for soft tissue grafting for over a year now and the results and patient acceptance have been outstanding

The latest advance in soft tissue grafting is the addition of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to the surgical site. This provides numerous growth factors, which accelerate healing, reduce swelling, and minimize post-operative discomfort. I began using PRP this year and the clinical outcome has been impressive both to me and to the patients. The use of AlloDerm with PRP is cutting edge technology, which combines matrix transplantation and autogenous growth factor stimulation enhancing both results and patient comfort.

AlloDerm has been shown in four separate controlled clinical trials to be equivalent to palatal connective tissue for treating gingival recession. Use of this tissue avoids complications, discomfort, and fear associated with the use of palate for donor tissue.

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Dr James A Miller, Aesthetic Dentist - Providing cosmetic and IV sedation dentistry and teeth whitening to the areas of Hillsboro and Portland, Oregon.