If you have been told you have recession, you may need a gum graft. There are two different types, Free Gingival Graft or Connective Tissue Graft. The aim is to cover the exposed root surfaces or add to the keratinized tissue you already have.
The most preferred method of grafting is to take donor tissue from the roof of your mouth (palate) and place it where the recession is occurring. By using your own tissue, you lessen the chance of infections, and increase the chance of success.
Another type of donor tissue is Alloderm, which is cadaver skin. I seldom use this due to two reasons:
- Does not yield as good a result as your own donor tissue
- It has an increased cost of ~$400-500 to buy the material.
Will the palate hurt afterward? We use palatal stents and with proper intra-op and post-op pain management methods, most patients do very well after the procedure.
