Tissue Grafting: Allograft Tissue
When you have severe periodontal disease, it can damage the soft tissue until you begin to experience severe pain and sensitivity. In the most serious of cases, you might experience tooth loss. As you undergo the consultation for dental implants or decide on an option for your damaged, diseased, or insufficient gums, the dentist may recommend allograft tissue.
What’s Allograft Tissue?
The prefix “allo” in the word allograft means “different.” It’s a tissue graft that comes from a different source than yourself, particularly a different person.
Your periodontist in Vero Beach will take tissue from another person. With this particular graft, your dentist will take tissue from a deceased donor who agreed to donate.
Prior to you receiving the tissue, the sample undergoes a special sterilization to remove any bacteria, viruses, etc. to ensure your graft is safe.
When Will a Dentist in Vero Beach Recommend an Allograft?
Firstly, this procedure is recommended if the patient has gum disease and exposed tooth root. The practitioner may suggest the procedure to stop discomfort and other unpleasant symptoms. They will advise you to undergo the procedure to cover your tooth root to protect it from further damage.
It’s possible you’ll receive an allograft if you have tooth loss, and your dentist recommends dental implants. The allograft ensures you have enough tissue to hold the tooth in place. Additionally, you may need this procedure done if you sustain an injury that affects your teeth and gums.
Specifically, your dentist will recommend an allograft if you’re not a candidate for an autograft.
Benefits of an Allograft
An allograft can be beneficial to boost your immune system and protect your teeth. When your dentist decides to use donor tissue rather than your own tissue, you benefit from only having one procedure rather than one to harvest and one to apply.
An allograft doesn’t have any live cells in it since they’re addressed during the preparation process. With no live cells, you have a low rejection rate with the tissue.
What to Expect During an Allograft
Initially, your periodontist will evaluate the inside of your mouth and will determine if an autograft is a safe procedure for you. If not, your practitioner will decide on an allograft and will find you the donor tissue.
Next, they will apply the graft to the weakened, disease, or non-existent gum tissue in your mouth. Your dental expert will then suture the tissue in place.
Healing After an Allograft
An allograft tends to heal quickly, especially when compared to an autograph since only one portion of your mouth needs to heal. As a general rule, you can expect the procedure to take one to two weeks to heal. You’ll usually have a follow-up appointment about a week after your procedure to ensure the area is healing properly.
Vero VIP will educate you about steps to take to promote healing before you leave the office. For instance, you won’t be able to brush the region at first to avoid irritating the area or pulling out the stitches. Instead, the practitioner will give you a mouthwash to use during the first few days after your procedure.
You’ll need to eat soft food when you first come home from the surgery and the first few subsequent days.
Your periodontist will recommend taking an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to combat the pain and inflammation.
Fortunately, complications from an allograft are rare.
An allograft can repair your tissue and prevent infection in the future. If your dental professional recommends this procedure, you have little risk of any complications and your practitioner will take every step possible to prevent complications from occurring. Plus, the recovery time is minimal, so you can resume your usual activities not long after the surgery.
Contact Vero VIP
Call Vero VIP at 772.569.9700 or visit their website to see if you are in need of and eligible for grafting.