AlloDerm Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I know AlloDerm is safe?
AlloDerm was initially introduced to the medical field as a treatment for serious burns and has become a popular choice for a breadth of plastic and reconstructive surgeries since then. All organ donors are screened and tested for pathogens before use, and the tissue is processed to remove all cellular material; this process also inactivates any potential viral activity. In all of its history, with more than a million successful applications, there have been zero occurrences of disease transmission or tissue rejection with AlloDerm.
Q. How does AlloDerm work?
AlloDerm is a pliable acellular matrix that acts as a scaffold for the body’s own natural tissues, providing collagen and proteins as well as structure. Collagen supports additional cell growth, helping keep the gum tissue vital and healthy, and protein attracts the patient’s natural tissue cells into the grafts and guides them as they grow.
What is AlloDerm?
AlloDerm is grafting material that is made from processed human tissue derived from organ donor cadavers and strictly screened by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Once it is processed, these sheets of acellular regenerative tissue matrix are sculpted over areas of gingival recession and sutured with the natural gum tissue, supporting the growth of this natural living tissue and encouraging its continued growth and vitality. As the graft sites heal, the AlloDerm encourages cellular growth until the natural cells take over and absorb the graft completely.
Is AlloDerm better than other kinds of gum grafts?
Traditionally, gum grafts rely on soft tissue harvested from the roof of the patient’s mouth, making a series of small incisions to remove natural tissue that is then sutured in place in areas of gum recession. When patients require more expansive gingival restoration, it can take multiple separate procedures to safely harvest a sufficient amount of tissue, and each procedure is painful and invasive. AlloDerm doesn’t require separate surgery to harvest the material, and there is a vast amount of AlloDerm tissue matrix available, making the procedure more convenient and significantly shortening recovery times. There are certain clinical situations where AlloDerm isn’t ideal, however, and there may be other factors that contribute to your judgment of which type of graft is better. Make sure to consult with your dentist to learn which type of gum grafts might be best for you.
I’ve heard that gum grafts are painful. What should I expect from an AlloDerm procedure?
It’s likely that you’ll have some mild swelling and bruising at the surgical site for a brief period following any surgery, and you may also have a medical dressing placed over the surgical site; your dentist will provide instructions for monitoring this dressing until it can be removed, and you’ll also receive specific aftercare instructions for careful cleaning and dietary guidelines. It’s important to leave the surgical site alone for the recommended period of time, avoiding teasing it with your lip or tongue, for example, as this could dislodge the tissue graft and would require additional surgery. You may also receive a prescription antibiotic and mouth rinse to help you keep the area free from infection as it heals; it’s important not to brush or floss the grafted area as it heals, and these additional measures will help keep your mouth clean until you can thoroughly, safely brush and floss again. While complete healing can take two weeks or longer, most patients experience the majority of healing within the first week after surgery.