What is AlloDerm?
AlloDerm is an acellular dermal matrix, a type of sterile tissue that is used in skin grafts and for tissue reconstruction therapies including gingival surgeries designed to restore the structure and integrity of the gums. Acellular dermal matrix is made from tissue derived from organ donor cadavers; the cells are removed from this tissue, making it acellular and removing all living material, thus creating a biocompatible, strong dermal tissue matrix that’s highly effective for skin grafts and reconstructions. For these procedures, sheets of AlloDerm are rehydrated and sculpted into areas where tissue augmentation is needed, supporting areas where gum tissue is lacking in structure or integrity. Once this tissue is placed, it provides a supportive framework for new, living skin and blood cells, helping these new cells grow in the appropriate location and with the optimal shape and appearance.
AlloDerm and other, similar acellular dermal matrices are biological materials that are used to scaffold and support tissue reconstruction. Once AlloDerm grafts are placed, the patient’s natural soft tissue grows into this scaffold, which helps maintain the natural tissue’s shape and encourage its proper growth and placement. AlloDerm supports and reinforces natural soft tissues and is often used in periodontal procedures when there are gingival deficiencies like gum recession. Traditionally, the soft tissues used for gum surgeries have been derived from the patient’s own mouth, using a series of small incisions in the patient’s palate and removing tissue from that area for use in gingival grafts. Once this living tissue is harvested, it is secured to areas of the gums where tissue is deficient or missing. While these gum grafting methods are effective, they can be painful and require long, uncomfortable recovery periods.
With AlloDerm, gingival grafts can be performed without needing to harvest living tissue from the patient’s mouth, reducing discomfort and speeding recovery. Additionally, because AlloDerm is available in larger volumes than the living tissue used in traditional grafts, patients don’t need to undergo as many procedures and can often undergo complete treatment for gum recession in fewer visits than with traditional grafting. Once AlloDerm is grafted to the areas where tissue supplementation is needed, it acts as a scaffold for new soft tissues, providing an environment for new blood vessels and the growth of new soft tissue cells.
Initially developed to help treat burn patients in the 1950s, the medical uses of AlloDerm have expanded to include a variety of soft tissue therapies. The advanced technological benefits of AlloDerm have supported optimal biocompatibility for many individuals in a variety of medical, dental, and periodontal reconstructive procedures; the material has been used in various medical procedures for decades and has demonstrated success in periodontal and dental procedures for nearly as long. Clinically proven to be a safe and effective method for treating issues with the gums and other soft oral tissues, AlloDerm provides aesthetically strong, predictable results while helping to reduce the number of visits and treatments, eliminating additional surgeries, and greatly reducing the duration of recovery and the levels of discomfort when compared with more invasive, traditional soft tissue grafting treatments.